Sidebottom unbackable in bowlers market

Having tipped Matthew Hoggard to go well in the series, I was surprised to see him bowl so poorly in the first Test against New Zealand. I was even more surprised to see him dropped for the second Test, though, and now Ryan Sidebottom is virtually unbackable to be England's top wicket-taker in the three-match series.

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Unlike Steve Harmison, who basically had to be dropped, and has been, after his woeful efforts, not just in Hamilton, but also in the past couple of years, Hoggard's omission was quite a surprise.

He has has been England's most reliable bowler at Test level over the past few years but he looked a little under-done in Hamilton. Perhaps he will come back stronger, but if Stuart Broad and James Anderson do well in Wellington, both he and Harmison could have played their last Test.

Their omissions leave Ryan Sidebottom as an even more overwhelming favourite, at 1/12 (1.08), having been the only star performer in the first match, taking 10 wickets in total, compared to one each for Hoggard and Harmison.

Now it's asking an awful lot for anyone to overtake Sidebottom, especially in just two Tests, and Monty Panesar, who was shown up by his New Zealand counterparts, is 6/1, which is an accurate representation of his chances.

Broad and Anderson are both 25/1, but it would take something spectacular - probably 10 wickets in each of the two remaining Tests - for either of them to overake Sidebottom.

Please note that odds are correct at time of publication and are subject to change.