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Sidebottom staying focused

Image: Sidebottom: Warning

Ryan Sidebottom says England's one-day side cannot afford to get carried away with their recent series wins.

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England seamer warns one-day side not to get carried away with recent wins.

England seamer Ryan Sidebottom says the one-day side must not be too carried away after their recent series wins, and need to start from scratch against New Zealand. England have enjoyed some rare consistency in limited overs cricket of late, with impressive series victories over India and away in Sri Lanka. Although they will head into the upcoming one-day series in New Zealand with a huge new sense of confidence, Sidebottom has warned the young outfit not to be too complacent. The Nottinghamshire left-armer says England have to forget all about their recent victories and start all over again if they are to make it a hat-trick of series wins. "We're not getting carried away," stressed Sidebottom, the Man of the Series in Sri Lanka. "Although we've won two series, we've still got a long way to go - we're a young team and we're improving, but there is still plenty to learn."

Strong challenge

Sidebottom expects a tough challenge from the Black Caps, despite their poor recent run of form. "New Zealand are a strong team," he added. "And despite losing a few players, they're a good unit and they stick together. "It won't be easy; they've won a few matches over here, so it's going to be tough cricket. "We had fantastic victories in the last two series and we played really well. But we need to back that up now over here. "We know it's not going to be easy, but if we play like we have done and try and be consistent it will stand us in good stead." Sidebottom, James Anderson and Stuart Broad starred for England in Sri Lanka, despite the conditions not being in their favour.
Discipline
With more favourable wickets expected in New Zealand, they should be even more potent, but coach Peter Moores has already stressed a need for discipline - and Sidebottom agrees. "You can come over here and you can get carried away, thinking it's going to seam and swing around everywhere - but that might not be the case, because the wickets are pretty good over here," warned Sidebottom. "We're not thinking we've just got to turn up and it's going to swing and seam around corners. "We've got to do the basics right, keep plugging away with those lines and lengths and making them play all the time." Sidebottom and the rest of the squad are all expected to get a run out over the weekend, with one-day warm-up matches against Canterbury on Saturday and Sunday before the first of two Twenty20 internationals against New Zealand in Auckland on Tuesday. There is an agreement to play 13 players in Saturday's game and 12 on Sunday as Moores considers his options for the two Twenty20 matches and five-match one-day series.

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