Ryan Sidebottom - an inspired choice

England's selectors have been prone to conservatism in recent years. By-and-large that's been a good thing. It's kept things on an even keel. Occasionally however, they've seemingly plucked a name from nowhere.

Last winter, Paul Nixon got an England call to initial widespread derision from the press. Before long, those same journalists were falling over one another trying to sing his praises the loudest as one of the few England one-day players to emerge with any credit from the World Cup.

Before this Test match, it had widely been assumed that James Anderson would replace Matthew Hoggard. Instead Ryan Sidebottom got the nod. A bowler with one cap to his name and not a player so much as mentioned in passing in conjunction with England's 30 man development squad or whatever it's called.

Again the selectors have played a blinder. Steve Harmison and Liam Plunkett hid a good few brilliant deliveries amongst a much greater volume of outright toss. Ryan Sidebottom just kept landing the ball in the right place and swinging it a bit. He picked up 4-42 in the West Indies first innings and has currently taken 2-12 in their second.

England v West Indies, second Test, day 2 at Headingley
England 570-7 declared (Michael Vaughan 103, Kevin Pietersen 226, Matt Prior 75)
West Indies 146-9 (Ryan Sidebottom 4-42, Liam Plunkett 3-35)
West Indies 22-2 following on