Ryan Sidebottom looks set to become an established member of the England set-up after earning an ECB central contract until the end of the 2008 season.

The 29-year-old left-arm quick has enjoyed a fairytale return to international colours and although he missed out on the ICC World Twenty20 through injury, will still be heading to Sri Lanka next month for a one-day tour with Nottinghamshire team-mate Graeme Swann.

And Sidebottom claims his summer couldn’t have gone any better, adding: “Getting a central contract is the icing on the cake.

“If people had told me before the season began that I would be opening the bowling in Test and One-day International cricket for England, I would have probably burst out laughing.

“I’ve surprised myself at times and I still don’t feel that I’ve really cemented a place in the team.

“But the central contract suggests the England hierarchy have faith in me and I’ll continue to work as hard as possible to justify my place and keep on improving.”