Sidebottom has tourists in sights

Published on Monday 31 August 2009 22:43

RYAN Sidebottom is intent on sending Australia home empty-handed this summer, but admits feeling some jealousy towards his Ashes-winning team-mates.

Sidebottom did not make a Test appearance in England's dramatic 2-1 series win, despite strong calls for his inclusion at Headingley. But after missing out on the jubilation of regaining the urn, he is now ready to complete a miserable few months for the tourists.

The Nottinghamshire left-armer took the new ball in Sunday's washed-out Twenty20 at Old Trafford and is key to England's prospects for the remainder of the one-day series.

That continues today with a second Twenty20 in Manchester, followed by seven one-day internationals. While a handful of the Test side have already finished their international summer, Sidebottom insists the one-day squad have an important job to do to ensure Australia do not end the tour with a victory.

"I think we are going places as a team. But we make no bones about the fact we've got a lot of improvement to do as a team, especially in one-day cricket," he said. "We're pretty close as a team, so we hope we can get out there and do well again. It would be an ideal situation to beat Australia in all forms of the game and send them home not winning everything.

"I think there are a lot of traditionalists, and everybody wants to watch Test cricket. But I think all forms are important.

"England want to be No1 in all areas of the game – Twenty20 and one-dayers included – and when we achieve that it will be great and it will be talked about a lot more, rather than just in the Test side."

Sidebottom feels the baton passing to the limited-overs players to keep Australia down. "We're the ones with the responsibility of going out there and putting on a performance."