Sidebottom back in action

Fast bowler Ryan Sidebottom returned to action for England in their final practice session before the NatWest Series clash with West Indies at Edgbaston.

The Notts paceman was forced to miss the 79-run win over the Windies in the opening game of the best-of-three one-day series at Lord's on Sunday with a viral infection.

He was replaced by Liam Plunkett, who turned in an impressive performance alongside Stuart Broad and James Anderson after being overlooked for the two Twenty20 games with the tourists.

One-day captain Paul Collingwood admitted it has left a selection poser for him and coach Peter Moores ahead of the game in Birmingham.

"Sidebottom would have been playing at Lord's. We will have to assess what our next team is going to be," he said.

"But that's the great thing at the moment, that there is a lot of competition at the moment for certain places, and that's tremendous for the England team."

He added: "Stuart Broad was exceptional. Jimmy Anderson started off really well and Liam Plunkett also did well."There is not a lot of experience with Plunkett and Broad but they were magnificent."

Meanwhile, fast bowling consultant Allan Donald has agreed to work with the England side until after the ICC World Twenty20 tournament in September.

Donald, 40, originally linked up with Peter Moores' coaching staff on a five-week contract that was due to expire at the end of the current one-day series against West Indies.

But after some improved performances from England's pacemen in recent weeks, the England and Wales Cricket Board have moved to extend his deal until the end of the inaugural international Twenty20 tournament, to be held in Donald's native South Africa.

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