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Tuesday, 22 May 2007, 15:00 GMT 16:00 UK

Shock England call for Sidebottom

Ryan Sidebottom England have given left-arm seam bowler Ryan Sidebottom a surprise call-up to the squad for the second Test against West Indies at Headingley on Friday.

Michael Vaughan and Andrew Flintoff both return, but Flintoff faces more fitness tests to see if his ankle can stand the pressure of a five-day match.

Matthew Hoggard is unfit after damaging his thigh in the drawn first Test but James Anderson has been recalled.

Batsman Owais Shah is the only player from Lord's not to be retained.

Chairman of selectors David Graveney said Nottinghamshire man Sidebottom, who spent seven seasons at Yorkshire, would add variety to the attack.

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The 29-year-old has taken 13 wickets in four Championship matches this season, with a best of 3-49 in the opening match against Leicestershire at Trent Bridge.

Graveney said: "We are naturally disappointed to lose a bowler of Matthew Hoggard's calibre for this Test but remain optimistic that he will be available for the third Test.

"The inclusion of James Anderson and Ryan Sidebottom in the squad is designed to provide us with different options within our pace bowling unit.

"With Jon Lewis and Stuart Broad unavailable through injury, we were keen to identify a bowler who could add variety to the attack.

Andrew Flintoff and Michael Vaughan

"Ryan has been a consistent performer for Nottinghamshire over the last two seasons, is familiar with the Headingley pitch through his time with Yorkshire and deserves a further opportunity at this level.

"Michael Vaughan came through his net session today without any adverse reaction while Andrew Flintoff practiced earlier today but did not bowl as a precaution.

"We will need to reassess Andrew's fitness over the next 48 hours and our plan is for him to bowl in practice on consecutive days to see if there is any further reaction to his ankle injury."

Vaughan, who resumes the captaincy, will play his first Test since December 2005.

Sidebottom took 0-38 and 0-26 in his one Test against a Pakistan side featuring Saeed Anwar, Inzamam-ul-Haq and Mohammad Yousuf.


England squad: Michael Vaughan (Yorkshire, captain), James Anderson (Lancashire), Ian Bell (Warwickshire), Paul Collingwood (Durham), Alastair Cook (Essex), Andrew Flintoff (Lancashire), Steve Harmison (Durham), Kevin Pietersen (Hampshire), Matt Prior (Sussex), Monty Panesar (Northants), Liam Plunkett (Durham), Ryan Sidebottom (Nottinghamshire), Andrew Strauss (Middlesex).



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Related to this story:

Moores defends misfiring Harmison (21 May 07 |  England )
Lord's Test ends in low-key draw (21 May 07 |  England )
West Indies legends (14 May 07 |  Cricket )
West Indies in England 2007 (08 Jan 07 |  Cricket )

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