Sidebottom wants batsmen to shine

Sidebottom returned a remarkable 4-5 on the day

Ryan Sidebottom says England must excel with the bat on day three as they look to take control of the first Test against New Zealand at Lord's.

Sidebottom (4-55) helped bowl the Kiwis out for 277 before bad light curtailed England's reply on 68-0.

"New Zealand got maybe 50 too many for my liking so tomorrow is a big day for us with the bat," said the seamer.

"We need to bat well because we know there is always something in the Lord's pitch for the bowlers."

On a day that saw play stopped on five occasions due to fluctuating light, Daniel Vettori (48) helped New Zealand to their competitive total before Alastair Cook (43) and Andrew Strauss (24) got England's reply off to a fine start.

"It was a difficult final session because you can be going on and off because of the light but the opening guys look in good nick so we need to kick on," said Sidebottom.

He is the best I have faced at the moment - I would be keen not to face him again New Zealand's Jacob Oram on Ryan Sidebottom

Credit's due to Cookie and Andrew - the conditions were quite difficult out there. They didn't play any rash shots and have built a good platform."

The tourists resumed their first innings on 208-6 and, after initial frustration, Sidebottom wrapped up their tail with a remarkable return of 4-5 on the day.

But the Nottinghamshire paceman was out of sorts on the opening day, finishing wicketless, as James Anderson took three and Stuart Broad two.

"I think we missed a trick yesterday - we could have taken a few more wickets - and perhaps didn't bowl as a unit as aggressively as we can do," said Sidebottom.

"I was bitterly disappointed with my performance. I really wanted to back up Broady and Jimmy.

"I wasn't hitting my straps so I looked at a few videos to get it right. I worked on it this morning and today I used my arms better to get my front arm in the right place.

"I think yesterday, because it was my first game for England for five or six weeks, I was maybe trying a bit too hard.

606: DEBATE Sidebottom has once again proved that he is a work of art oufctanatic

" "So it was good to go away last night and think about it. You are always going to have bad days but being a bowler you have plenty of chances to put it right."

One of Sidebottom's victims, Jacob Oram, was full of praise for the 30-year-old who claimed 24 wickets in three Tests against New Zealand in March and was recently voted England's player of the year.

"He is the best I have faced at the moment," Oram said. "I would be keen not to face him again.

"If you are able to swing it, and swing it with accuracy, you're going to be difficult to play. The thing that strikes me the most is he's so accurate with it and he swings it late.

"He seems to be right back to where he was in New Zealand, which is unfortunate for us."