Sidebottom targets England return

Ryan Sidebottom waits his turn in the Colombo nets © AFP

Ryan Sidebottom missed England's disappointing showing in the ICC World Twenty20 with a side injury, but that setback has made him all the more determined to succeed in the forthcoming one-day series against Sri Lanka.

The first of the five-match series begins in Dambulla on October 1, and Sidebottom is confident that he has the ability to overcome the heat and humidity in what promises to be his first overseas international for six years.

"You can only improve as a bowler if you test yourself in different conditions," Sidebottom told PA Sport. "I am really looking forward to doing that. I'll be working with the coaching staff, preparing as thoroughly as possible and getting my plans right for playing out there.

Sidebottom is expected to test both his fitness and his aptitude for Sri Lankan wickets during England's warm-up match against a Sri Lanka Board President's XI at the Saravanamuttu Stadium in Colombo on Friday. Although he is not the quickest bowler in the England set-up, as a left-armer he offers variety and in his Sri Lankan counterpart, Chaminda Vaas, he has the ideal template for success.

"Someone like Vaas has taken a lot of wickets for Sri Lanka and shown that there is a place for seamers," he said. "He has shown that you do not have to be able steam in and bowl at 90mph to be a quality international bowler on those types of pitches.

"Having spoken to Darren Gough about how to bowl and get wickets out in the sub-continent I realise it will be a different challenge for me, but I believe I will be able to get wickets. I might not be able to get orthodox swing all the time but I am sure I will be able to get the ball to reverse a bit.

And Sidebottom has no qualms about adapting to touring life. "Adjusting to the conditions [off the pitch] should not be too much of a problem. I love curries so I should be okay on that front, although with the heat out there I might even have to get my hair cut!"