Sidebottom ruled out of one-dayers

Ryan Sidebottom's dismal run with injuries continued on Saturday as he was ruled out of the remainder of England's one-day series in India with a side strain.

The 30-year-old left-arm seamer is yet to play a match in India since England's arrival three weeks ago after initially suffering Achilles problems before picking up a side strain.

Sidebottom was scanned for the problem several days ago when England arrived in Kanpur after complaining of discomfort before the third one-day international. Those results were inconclusive so the tourists sent him for further tests, which confirmed a slight tear to his right side and ruled him for the remaining four matches.

He will remain with the England Performance Programme squad, who arrived in Bangalore on Saturday, and his fitness is due to be re-examined after the one-day series to determine whether he is available for the two-Test series starting in Ahmedabad on December 11.

It is the latest blow for a player who has bowled just two competitive overs since his last international appearance in the third Test against South Africa at Edgbaston last August, with a series of side injuries ruling him out for the rest of the English summer.

He returned for the Stanford Series in Antigua but suffered Achilles problems after bowling against Trinidad and Tobago, and just as he was about to recover from that he suffered his latest setback.