Sidebottom Excels As Dark Skies Reduce Cricket to a Sideshow

Ryan Sidebottom took four wickets for five runs in 10 overs, but bad light hampered England's progress
Not much happened at Lord's. Umpire Steve Bucknor held his light meter to the skies every six minutes. Sometimes the game was allowed to continue; at others the batsmen, having been offered the light, took refuge in the pavilion. It didn't rain. But imperceptibly the solid bank of cloud changed in color from grey to dark grey and back again. To those unfamiliar with the vagaries of our summer game to be at Lord's on Friday was an exercise in utter futility. To those more accustomed ... well, staring up at the skies in search of a glimmer of light was a pretty pointless pursuit for them as well. So a forgettable day for around 20,000 spectators and 21 of the 22 players involved. But I think Ryan Sidebottom will remember it with some affection. Thursday had been barren for Sidebottom. He had bowled adequately, but no more (one of his virtues is that he never bowls really badly). On Friday morning he propelled six frugal overs with the old ball and collected the wicket of Jacob Oram. Another testing delivery found the edge and Andrew Strauss confirmed that his presence in the team at least enhances the quality of the slip cordon. That was England's solitary success with the old ball but at least they made the Kiwis graft for their runs. As ever Daniel Vettori produced an innings of pugnacity rather than purity, snatching runs wherever he could. As soon as the new ball was available - a dozen minutes before lunch - Michael Vaughan summoned up Sidebottom and the game changed. Sidebottom's first ball swung devilishly into the pads of Kyle Mills and the appeal was rejected; his second also changed direction in mid-air and this time proceeded through the Mills gate on to the stumps. Somehow Tim Southee, who looked as if he had never experienced such prodigious movement before, survived until lunch. But after the break he soon missed a swinging half-volley and his stumps were splattered. After a few successful swishes against James Anderson, Vettori now found himself at Sidebottom's end. Anticipating sharp away swing - with some justification - he opted to shoulder arms. But this time the ball declined to change direction. Instead it continued on its merry way striking the middle stump, which meant for a bashful exit for the New Zealand captain, even though he had played another invaluable innings down the order. Soon it dawned that Sidebottom on this drab Friday had taken four wickets for five runs in 10.1 overs - memorable stuff. The key question now was whether the Kiwi's new ball would swing as potently. Answer: no. So England's latest opening pair batted like friends reunited. In fact they have not prospered together in the past, but here they went about their business pragmatically and positively. In a Southee over Alastair Cook cracked three boundaries. Strauss unveiled a crisp pull shot against Chris Martin. They scampered between the wickets. Otherwise they batted like good old English pros: no frills, no flourishes. They seemed in such control that when Umpire Bucknor decided that the light had deteriorated once more, it was the Kiwis who looked relieved to be able to return to the pavilion. Old pros rarely turn down the offer of the light.