Sidebottom handed two-year extension at Notts

Ryan Sidebottom has extended his contract with Nottinghamshire for two years. The move is hardly a surprise: last year, he took 50 wickets with his seam bowling helped his county to the Championship title. The Player of the Year award followed.

The club's director of cricket, Mick Newell said: "Ryan has done very well in his first two seasons with us but I think there's still room for improvement. In my opinion he's the best left-arm seamer in the country and we're very lucky to have him playing for Notts. He's enjoyed his time here, loves his cricket and has plenty of friends in the dressing room."

Sidebottom moved from Yorkshire in 2004 and helped Notts to promotion in both the first-class competition and the one-day league his first season, before playing a crucial role in their first Championship triumph in 18 years.

Newell believes Sidebottom still has the potential to make a return to the Test team. "If England wanted to look for a different option in their fast bowling attack," he said, "Ryan should be at the top of their list. His consistency and ability to move the ball both ways makes him a dangerous bowler and someone who I believe is capable of playing at the top level."

Sidebottom has played just one Test, in 2001, when he stepped in for Matthew Hoggard to play against Pakistan at Lord's. He went wicketless and was generally considered out of his depth at that point.