A wicketless appearance against Pakistan in 2001 appeared to condemn Ryan Sidebottom to the same 'one-Test wonder' status that his father Arnie achieved in 1985. Thereafter discarded by Duncan Fletcher for a lack of pace, Sidebottom bounced back as an endorsement of county cricket in 2007.
His years on the domestic circuit grooved a smooth left-armer's action and Sidebottom immediately put his international colleagues to shame with his accuracy and ability to move the ball both ways. He quickly became the leader of the attack and was the first bowling name on the teamsheet in the transitional early months of Peter Moores' tenure as coach.
Sidebottom's 24 wickets in three Tests in New Zealand in early 2008 was the difference between the teams and earned him the award of Wisden Cricketer of the Year 2008. A run of niggling injuries revealed the extent to which he had carried the attack and he faces a battle to rediscover the nip and swing that made him so devastating. He showed promising form in the 2009 ICC World Twenty20 and returned to the Test squad for the fourth Ashes Test of the summer after impressing for his county.
| Career |
25 |
18 |
8 |
133 |
24 |
13.30 |
68.56 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
11 |
| Series |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
|
| Career |
25 |
1277 |
1039 |
29 |
35.83 |
0 |
| Seies |
1 |
46 |
46 |
1 |
46.00 |
0 |
|
|
|