Sidebottom and Shahzad compete for England Test spot
Ryan Sidebottom and Ajmal Shahzad are competing for a place in the England XI for their second Test of the current series against Bangladesh, which starts tomorrow.
As England head into the match seeking a 2-0 series victory, they have been forced to make one change from the side that defeated Bangladesh by eight wickets in the first Test at Lord’s, and that is the omission of seamer Tim Bresnan from the squad with a stress fracture to his left foot sustained in that match.
Bresnan’s enforced absence has opened the door for Ryan Sidebottom to push for a return to the Test XI after holding down a spot in England’s bowling attack for the duration of their title-winning World Twenty20 campaign during May.
“It's very unfortunate that Tim Bresnan will miss the second Test through injury as his bowling benefitted from five days of Test cricket during the Lord's Test and he would have been looking forward to getting more overs under his belt at Old Trafford,” England national selector Geoff Miller said.
“It does, however, provide Ryan Sidebottom with an opportunity to push for Test selection following his outstanding performances in the World Twenty20.”
Swing bowler Sidebottom is the only inclusion in the England squad that will head to Old Trafford for the second Test, with selectors sticking by their decision to rest paceman Stuart Broad from this series as he instead undertakes strengthening work.
There’s no guarantee that Sidebottom, however, will be required to do any more than carry the drinks, with Shahzad pushing to make his Test debut in Manchester, after missing out at Lord’s.
Whoever misses out on playing in this match will surely be facing an uphill battle to secure a place in England’s Ashes squad, with the emergence of the 6ft 7in Steven Finn (who took nine wickets, including a five-wicket haul in Bangladesh’s second innings at Lord’s) further intensifying the competition for places in England’s pace attack.
Finn has done more than enough to hold down his place in the side for the second Test, ensuring that unless England decide to drop a batsman from the XI who will take to the field at Old Trafford, the pace attack will be comprised of the young Middlesex quick, James Anderson and one of Shahzad and Sidebottom.
"To get a Test cap and put my name in the hat for future Tests would be the biggest thing for me," Shahzad has told the BBC.
Those future Tests, needless to say, could include the 2010/11 Ashes series and both Sidebottom and Shahzad will be acutely aware that if they want to experience a summer in the Antipodes this year, selection in the playing XI for this Test is the first big step.
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