May 08, 2008	Thursday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 2, 1429

LONDON, May 7: Legendary New Zealand all-rounder Sir Richard Hadlee, who is the current chairman of selectors, believes England’s Ryan Sidebottom is the biggest threat to the touring side ahead of the forthcoming Test and One-day International series.

Sidebottom was New Zealand’s nemesis in the preceding series, taking 24 wickets at 17.08 in three Tests, and Hadlee warned of his nagging accuracy giving them hell again.

“Sidebottom bowled beautifully in New Zealand, he proved to be a major challenge for us and we will have to combat him if we are to stand any chance of even being competitive in the series,” Hadlee was quoted as saying in The Guardian.

“Ryan also has nagging accuracy, he showed in New Zealand his ability to get the ball there and thereabouts most of the time, and again that is something which will test our side. They are going to be coming up against a very skillful bowler.”

Hadlee, the first bowler to take 400 Test wickets, knows a thing or two about swing bowling and he pinpointed Sidebottom’s ability to move the ball both ways as critical.

“Sidebottom can swing it both ways, bowls a heavy ball, and can bowl left-arm around the wicket, which is an unusual skill for a left-hander to possess,” he said.

New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori was also cautious.

“Anyone who takes 24 wickets and bowls as fast as he [Sidebottom] does, swings the ball and bowls the length of spells – that was fantastic,” he said. “He is England’s best bowler and every time he’s stepped up they seem to win games.”—Agencies