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LONDON - After a rare off-day, a rejuvenated England paceman Ryan Sidebottom has promised more fireworks for New Zealand's batsmen in the three-test cricket series.
The man of the series from England's 2-1 win in New Zealand roared back into form on day two of the first test
at Lord's, after taking 24 overs to notch his first wicket.
Second day figures of four for five off 10.1 overs was more like it for the Yorkshireman, who ended with four for 55 off 28.2 overs.
It maintained his run against New Zealand this year, having taken 28 test wickets at 16.6.
He was angry at letting New Zealand off the hook from 104 for five and felt the tourists had scored "50 runs too many", largely thanks to Brendon McCullum's innings of 97.
New Zealand scored 277 and England were in the box seat at 68 without loss in reply at stumps on a gloomy day two which saw just 55 overs bowled.
The England quicks emerged fired up in the morning session, with plenty of short-pitched deliveries, and Sidebottom hinted at more of the same in the second innings.
"As a bowling unit on the first day we weren't aggressive to McCullum, we let him play a lot of front foot shots," he said.
"He's quite good at hooking but no batsman likes it, it gets them off their game and the way they move their feet.
"The plan was to be a little bit more aggressive and bowl a few more bouncers."
With England's bowlers confident they've got the New Zealand top order under pressure, McCullum, Jacob Oram and captain Daniel Vettori loom as their most prized scalps.
The trio scored 173 of New Zealand's 277 between them, with Vettori batting 162 minutes for 48 before Sidebottom skittled him to end the innings.
McCullum unsettled the England bowlers by moving around the crease and sometimes charging, so he can expect more short-pitched action later in the match.
"He's a good player and he took the momentum away for us yesterday and played very well," Sidebottom said.
"We're not just going to bowl bouncers at him but the odd bouncer, batsmen in general don't like it."
New Zealand allrounder Jacob Oram found it tough going, toiling 146 minutes for 28 with Sidebottom charging in, before he edged a catch to first slip to provide the left-armer his first wicket.
Oram joked he was "pretty keen not to face him again".
"He's just bowling at a good pace where he's swinging it enough to cause guys trouble and I think that's the key. If you're able to swing it with accuracy you're going to be tough to play," Oram said.
"The thing that strikes me the most is that he's so accurate with it, and it seems to go late.
"He's right on top of his game and what I saw from him today seems to be right back where he was in New Zealand, unfortunately for us."
Oram was unhappy with the bowling unit's effort late on day two where they struggled to stay warmed up, with the three separate breaks for bad light.
- NZPA