In an era of injury prone Australian fast bowling stocks, it seems inconceivable the fittest and most durable member is facing the selection axe.
But that’s the reality for the pace-challenged Peter Siddle, with his captain seeking strike power from the frontline fast men in a bowling line-up bolstered by Mitchell Marsh’s steady seam support.
Skipper Michael Clarke and replacement Brad Haddin sent Siddle a clear message during Australia’s final day quest for Indian wickets in Adelaide, largely ignoring the veteran of 56 Tests and his medium paced in-swingers.
He was asked to bowl just nine overs – including three two-over spells in the closing 60 overs.
An expensive first innings return set up Siddle’s demise with India’s wristy top order milking the struggling workhorse at near five runs an over, continuing a mostly horrid 2014 featuring only nine wickets in his last five Tests at 67.
Questions of diminishing pace are nothing new for the highly respected Siddle, whose Test career began unravelling last February in South Africa.
After forming the perfect foil for the destructive Mitchell Johnson and Ryan Harris during Australia’s Ashes whitewash, the Victorian was mauled by South Africa in the opening two Tests returning five wickets at 54 runs apiece and conceding an average of 3.3 runs per over – well above the miserly 2.5 against England.
The pace and wicket taking power of James Pattinson replaced Siddle for the final Test in Cape Town with Darren Lehmann reasoning, “We need him bowling 140kph and at the moment he’s averaging 131, 132. He knows that, we’ve spoken to him and I’m sure he will be back bigger and stronger.”
The coach was partially right, Siddle making it back via the UAE’s fast bowling graveyard for Australia’s demoralising series loss to Pakistan.
But he certainly wasn’t quicker and definitely not bigger, his vegan diet morphing him even closer to former Australian marathon legend Steve Moneghetti.
And befitting the image, there’s little doubt if asked, Siddle would pin a race bib to his Test shirt and charge in from both ends all day and still nudge 130kph in the 90th over.
Selectors must realise the sacrifices Siddle has made to prop up Australia’s attack in times of need when others have crumbled at the thought of back-to-back Tests.
But a big heart is no guarantee of Test success as modern fast bowling great Jason Gillespie can attest. Like Siddle, the ageing star lost pace and wicket taking prowess during the 2005 Ashes series and eventually captain Ricky Ponting’s confidence, enough to kick start a rapid closure to a long and distinguished Test career.
So with Josh Hazelwood waiting in the wings, the upcoming Gabba Test is the perfect venue for the tall New South Welshman to debut in Siddle’s place, on a deck where he will ask the highly skilled Indians more questions with extra pace and bounce.
As for Peter Siddle, a plate of steaks may halt his vanishing act and return the former woodchopper’s upper body bulk for a welcomed fast bowling revival, with longevity still a concern among Australia’s fast bowling candidates.
dan ced
Guest
On form right now it should be: Cowan, Warner, Ferguson, Smith, Voges, M.Marsh, Ludeman, Johnson, Hazelwood, Starc, Lyon (Harris 12th) I suppose you could swap Ferguson with Burns/Cooper or Ludeman with Hartley/Neville. It's going to be Rogers, Warner, Watson, Smith, Smersh, Marsh, Haddin, Johnson, Harris, Hazelwood, Lyon though.
pjm
Roar Rookie
Don't worry about it Jason, nothing wrong with the comment.
Brains of a bimbo (Atgm)
Guest
Shud of replaced siddle a year ago.
pjm
Roar Rookie
He didn't say red meat. Vegans can't eat enough food to get the protein intake that a fast bowler needs in a day and major sources of protein in a Vegan diet also lower testosterone.
slurpy
Roar Rookie
id be calling in starc before hazelwood. he is the future i reckon. plus him and MJ bowling together will give Nathan Lyon some nice footmarks to work out of
Jason Hosken
Roar Guru
Starc looks to have a decent Test career in front of him but I agree a decent dose of long form cricket would make him an even better proposition. The same problem extends across the board once you get beyond Johno, Sidds and Harris - the newcomers just don't get enough first class matches due to injury and scheduling. Hopefully Hazelwood and/or Starc get a decent run to build up the body and selectors confidence. And it's why Siddle will remain on the radar - to cover the short fall of the second tier.
Joel
Roar Rookie
He doesn't need to be a wicket taker, just needs to be able to bowl enough tight overs to give the fast blokes a rest
The Runt
Guest
How many wickets has marsh taken ? enough to justify his selection as an allrounder!
13th man
Guest
Yeah I would like to see this line up for the Ashes Warner Bancroft Burns Smith (c) Clarke/Voges M Marsh Neville/ Whiteman Johnson Harris/Pattinson Cummins Lyon 12th: Starc Blood a couple of youngsters, Bancroft and Burns look the best. Smith as captain, then you have an experienced guy at 5 (Clarkey if fit or else Voges is best bet) then a new keeper like Neville or Whiteman, then Mitch leads the attack with Harris (if fit) and then there are Pattinson, Starc and Cummins all also in the squad to choose from.
Tock
Guest
Could not disagree more. We need Starc to be part of the team. Australia can not ignore a 2m tall left arm quick who bowls mid 140's and can nip the ball back into the right hand batsman. I'm gabberflasted or something like that :).
Jason Hosken
Roar Guru
Thanks Ronan - big improvement from Starc compared to 3.4rpo in Tests. No doubt he still has a big career in front of him. I guess for now the selectors are sweating on the best combination in terms of wickets, runs and longevity in a compressed series.
Joel
Roar Rookie
Starc looked like a different beast from what we've seen before when he played in UAE. He bowled with apparent pace where there was none and managed to hurry up a few batsman. Since being back for NSW he's looked especially sharp and very accurate
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
Starc has been in very good nick in the Shield since returning from Pakistan (with 11 wickets at 19) and has been far more frugal than any of NSW's other pacemen: Starc - 2.76rpo Bollinger - 3.99 Sandhu - 4.09 Abbott - 3.90 Hazlewood - 3.79 Henriques - 3.83
Joel
Roar Rookie
HA I would love to see the vein in chappelli's head if Cowan were to be selected
Armchair Expert
Guest
Good point on Starc Gavv, he's been on fire in his couple of shield games this season, as opposed to Hazelwood who was very ordinary I his recent shield games, I also thought Starc did alright in his last test in Pakistan, considering the conditions.
Kev
Guest
He's done that for most of his career and when he hasn't, he's been squandering good starts. The paradox that lies within the selection panel is that on one hand they'll give a debutant just 1 or 2 tests and drop them if they don't perform and yet other players like Watson, get a free ride despite never performing over nearly 10 years.
Bfc
Guest
If Siddle can do the job then Lehmann and his fellow selectors should pick him. If they think he can't then he should not be selected. Pretty simple really... On the other I hand we have too many under forming batsmen, and are all too reliant on Warner and Smith ( sadly it looks like Clarke is a 'goner'...). Time to give Watson the 'tap on the shoulder as he has contributed little as our #3', and perhaps Rogers is on shaky ground also. A team cannot afford two batsmen at the top who are not scoring runs...
Disco
Guest
I suspect it's a dig at someone making a personal choice which makes others uncomfortable.
Gav
Guest
Jason I think Chris has given a different look on the Starc leaks runs thing. I don't think any of our other frontline bowlers are overly expensive, and I'd focusing on picking the right bowler to help us get 10 wickets an innings.......and Siddle isn't that guy. Honestly hard to imagine what the selectors have in their mind at the moment. Disappointing when you think of what R Marsh, M Waugh and T Honns have been through as players and selectors in the past. No real forward thinking at all, in a test series where we need to (ageing side), and can probably afford to given we are talking about India in Aus
The Barry
Roar Guru
It seems like punters have been calling for Siddle's head ever since he was first selected but he's always managed to survive because he's pulled out a timely big series or there's been too many injuries. It seems like a long time since he got a big return and even longer since a few back to back. Forget the fact that he's a vegan, he does look like he's slimmer than he's ever been and he's not bowling as quickly. Having a tall bowler who can get the ball to rise from a good length is invaluable in my opinion. Harris and Siddle would get the ball coming in at a similar sort of trajectory. Someone like Hazlewood would really provide variety to the attack.