England star Ryan Sidebottom has set his sights on a successful tour of New Zealand when he arrives in the southern hemisphere later this month.

The 28-year-old left-armer is likely to be one of the first names on the team-sheet when the two sides line up for the One-day International and Test Match series.

Sidebottom bowled well but without much luck on the Test tour of Sri Lanka before Christmas, and claims it’s important that England get back to winning ways quickly after losing the series 1-0.

He said: “I see the New Zealand tour as a big one for me, as I didn’t get many wickets in Sri Lanka although I felt that I bowled quite well.

“I need to make sure I’m a consistent wicket-taking threat and the more seamer-friendly conditions in New Zealand will be a help.

“It’s up to me to carry on from my successes during 2007 and try and improve on that. That means taking more wickets and contributing with the bat, but the most important thing is to keep on enjoying my cricket.”