Sidebottom the Sidewinder

The first hot weather of the summer often makes batting hazardous as the moisture is sucked from the ground and the ball hoops around corners, and Kent were among the most disorientated yesterday. Ryan Sidebottom rarely wastes opportunities as good as these.

Any satisfaction after dismissing Nottinghamshire for 202 was abruptly stilled as Kent fell to five for four against the swing bowling of Sidebottom, the one member of England's attack whose place at Lord's is beyond debate. He found extravagant swing with the new ball to take three wickets in 19 balls.

Joe Denly lost his middle stump to Sidebottom's first ball, a booming inswinger, and Charlie Shreck chipped in by having Martin van Jaarsveld lbw in his first over before Sidebottom struck twice more in his third. Matthew Walker did well to nick his delivery to Chris Read behind the stumps and Darren Stevens was lbw first ball, his extravagant leave made to look foolish by another huge inswinger; he tapped the top of his pad to the umpire, Neil Bainton, and will be lucky to escape penalty.

England's selectors were here and by the time Sidebottom made hay they had begun deliberations about the squad for the first Test against New Zealand next week. The England Lions, who face the tourists at the Rose Bowl in a four-day match starting today, will expect them to have the decency to delay their conclusions: Matthew Hoggard, Owais Shah and Ravi Bopara have points to prove.

Notts batted moderately well but it was the £8.2m redevelopment which really caught the eye. The permanent floodlights resemble circular fly swats and the new Bridgford Road stand, with a steeply curving roof and 10 large triangular windows, maintains Trent Bridge's reputation for eye-catching design.

The fall of Notts' wickets emphasized the amount of movement on offer. Nine batsmen fell either to the wicketkeeper, Geraint Jones, or Justin Kemp and Van Jaarsveld at first and second slip. Adam Voges, who hit 43 from 86 balls, propelled his get-out shot as far as short cover.