Sidebottom retires

England pace bowler Ryan Sidebottom has announced his immediate retirement from international cricket. Sidebottom, 32, was part of England’s World Twenty20-winning squad earlier this year in the West Indies.

He made his decision after helping Nottinghamshire lift the County Championship Division One title.

Yorkshire-born Sidebottom made his Test debut against Pakistan at Lords in 2001, but had to wait another six years for a second opportunity.

He went on to establish himself as a regular in the England team, producing a Test hat-trick and returning career-best figures of 7-47 against New Zealand in 2008.

In all, he took 79 wickets in 22 Tests and more than 50 in one-day and Twenty20 internationals.

England coach Andy Flower praised Sidebottom’s contribution for the national side. BBC