Ryan Sidebottom and Andrew Flintoff are "head and shoulders" above the rest of England's pace bowlers, according to Nottinghamshire coach Mike Newell.

With the first Test looming against New Zealand next week, Sidebottom took five for 55 for Nottinghamshire to limit Kent's first-innings lead at Trent Bridge to 36.

After the visitors had been bowled out for 238, Nottinghamshire moved quickly to 106 for two second time round - cashing in on Sidebottom's telling swing and good sense.

Conditions improved markedly for batting on the second day, meaning Sidebottom had to rein in attacking instincts and make the batsmen work for their runs.

It all left Newell purring about the former Yorkshire left-armer's high perch in the national pecking order.

"Ryan is indisputably, with Flintoff, the best bowler in England," said Newell, comparing his man with England's one-time all-rounder who at present cannot buy a run but once again continued his irresistible form with the ball for Lancashire on Thursday.

While Sidebottom was demonstrating why he is so highly rated not just by Newell but by New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori, among many others, Nottinghamshire's other England seamer Stuart Broad had a tougher day.

Twenty-one-year-old Broad, in his first season at Trent Bridge, finished with one for 71 as Kent's tail wagged with half-centuries from Yasir Arafat (67) and Ryan McLaren (57).

"Those two [Sidebottom and Flintoff] and are head and shoulders (above the rest), and Stuart's a learning bowler who is obviously developing very well," Newell reasoned.

"Stuart bowls more four balls - but he also has the ability to bowl some magic balls.

"That is part of what you get with him - a mixture, not the control yet that you have with someone like Ryan who has been playing eight years longer.

"He has pace, the ability to bowl magic balls - and he can hustle a few people through."

Thirty-year-old Sidebottom is much more the finished article - and clearly had a plan B when the ball stopped swinging.

"He doesn't bowl any bad balls. He bowls a good, tight line and is always a threat," Newell added.

"Even when the ball is not doing a hell of a lot, he's always in the game."

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