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Pain game

Ryan Sidebottom reveals in his latest skysports.com blog that England are hurting after defeat in Bristol

Posted: 24th June 2008 15:08

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Sidebottom: Missed the defeat in Bristol

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I had a bit of a stiff back last week which wasn't getting any better. We made the decision to have an injection which meant hopefully clearing up the injury within three or four days. Fortunately this has worked, so having missed the last two games I've had chance to rest and recover.

I was sent down to London for the injection on Wednesday during the Edgbaston game, but I did make it back for the end. It was pitch black and hammering it down!

For me, it was the right decision to come off as you have to be fair to both sides. England had come off with the bat earlier on when it was quite dark. New Zealand would have been disappointed but it was the right decision.

I've been travelling around with the squad while recovering from the injections and bowled the day before the game at Bristol. It was then a case of seeing how I woke up on the morning of the match.

Disappointed

I was still a bit stiff so it wasn't worth the risk - it's still such a long season, so just to miss a couple of games was the right thing. I ran the drinks on down there and I can tell you the team we're really disappointed.

The opportunity was there to go 2-0 up in the series and we felt the game was there for the taking. New Zealand could then have only drawn the series at best - but they are right back in it now.

The guys are disappointed that someone didn't go on to score 50 or 60 like Grant Elliott did for New Zealand. It wasn't to be and the fourth ODI will be a tough game now. We will certainly need to be at our best.

Some of the New Zealand side won't have played the Oval. It does bounce a bit there and kiss through - which might work to our advantage. I enjoy bowling there although it is a ridiculously fast outfield with a huge square that sees the ball race away! You just have to bang a length out as hard as possible, but if players play well there could well be runs to be had.

We are desperate to get on top of the series again. Having let our foot off the pedal, we will be training our socks off and be ready for the game on Wednesday. We certainly don't want to even contemplate being two-one down. If we can win the game and wrestle back to momentum, hopefully there'll be only one winner in the series.