That England has become a cosy club is a charge often levelled at Geoff Miller and his fellow selectors. Try telling that to Ryan Sidebotttom. After a year during which he became indispensable in a four-man attack, leading the charge home and away in all conditions and all forms of the game, he found himself at the end of the summer not wanted as one of five. With a stomach upset to Stephen Harmison gifting Sidebottom an opportunity in the first of England's warm-up matches against Middlesex yesterday evening, he intends to use this week in Antigua to remind the new captain of his qualities.

A change at the top can often bring a change of personnel and priorities. Sidebottom was viewed as a Peter Moores-Andy Flower pick, a move away from the pace-dominated approach under Duncan Fletcher. Kevin Pietersen's first moves as captain were to restore Andrew Flintoff and Stephen Harmison, making Stuart Broad almost unassailable because of his batting ability at No8 and leaving Sidebottom to fight it out with James Anderson for the final bowling position. But in one-day cricket, Anderson is the liveliest of wires in the field. Accordingly, Sidebottom's one-day stock has plummeted faster than the FTSE.

He has been unlucky, too. Back, groin and hip injuries have left him, he said yesterday, “feeling like a pin cushion” so many injections has he endured to get back to full fitness.

He emphasised that his general fitness record is good, but that he was unused to the constant strain that year-round international cricket places on the body. “In international cricket, you have to bowl at 100 per cent all the time, something you don't have to do in county cricket,” he said.

“I'm enjoying the pressure I'm putting myself under to get back into the side. Every net session is an opportunity ... I see myself as a solid selection, but I know that I've got to try to cement my place in the team again and it's not going to be easy. There's tremendous pressure on places.”