Australian Test workhorse Peter Siddle believes the injuries sidelining his young pace colleagues are unavoidable.
With James Pattinson, 23, Mitchell Starc, 23, Pat Cummins, 20, and 26-year-old Jackson Bird all out of action with back injuries as the Ashes series nears, theories abound about why the nation’s best young quicks are breaking down.
Fast bowling great Dennis Lillee has suggested the pacemen of today don’t spend enough time bowling in the nets.
But Siddle, 28, who himself dealt with early-career back problems, said such injuries were inevitable as young pacemen’s bodies become accustomed to the strain.
“We get a bit worked up about the issue,” Siddle told AAP on Tuesday.
“You look at blokes around that age in the world – in the history of cricket, that age has always been a prone age for injury.
“It’s just a matter of taking time.
“We’re probably just blessed in a way that we’ve got three young blokes at the same age that are going to be future superstars.
“They’re just playing at the same time and they’re getting the same injuries, which is no different to what James Anderson got or Brett Lee, when he was a youngster.”
Siddle said even at local level, young quicks were often injured, but the international cricket workload compounded the issue.
“It is unavoidable,” he said.
“Blokes want to bowl fast and your body’s just not made to do that action.”
Siddle said experience had taught him what his body could handle.
“Sometimes it might be for only three overs a session where you have a bit of a dash at them and then ease off and just get through your rhythm,” he said.
“But at a young age you don’t want to do that stuff.”
He believes Australia are still well stocked with quicks for the Ashes, nominating Mitchell Johnson as favourite to back himself and Ryan Harris, with Ben Hilfenhaus and Josh Hazlewood other options.
He said Ian Bell was the key England batsmen to counter, after his dominance at home earlier this year.
Siddle is confident bouncier Australian pitches will help.
“With the faster wickets and the short balls, hopefully we can get on top of him.”
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