A renewed Peter Siddle is on the verge of joining Australia’s 200 club, and has the backing of coach Darren Lehmann to reignite his flagging career.
Siddle breathed live into his Test career with a match-winning six-wicket haul in Australia’s innings-and-46-run victory over England in the fifth and final Ashes Test at the Oval on Sunday.
After admitting his disappointment at being left out of the preceding four Tests, and fearing his career was over, the 30-year-old proved the most reliable of Australia’s much-vaunted pace attack when called on by retiring skipper Michael Clarke.
Now he seems destined to become the 15th Australian to reach 200 Test wickets.
Siddle’s terrific performance at the Oval, in which he was Australia’s most economic performer of the tour while also grabbing wickets at crucial times, has boosted him to 198 Test scalps.
And according to Lehmann, he’s very much in the frame to add to that haul.
That is despite Australia’s wealth of fast-bowling talent, and Lehmann’s personal preference for express pace.
“The way he bowled, he was fantastic this game,” Lehmann said.
“If he gets it in the right areas, he’s a quality bowler and his record speaks for itself.
“So we’re really pleased that he bowled the way he did and there’s always a future.
“We’re not saying we pick out-and-out fast bowlers all the time – obviously it may seem that way, but we pick the best team to try and win every game.”
There was considerable conjecture about Siddle’s place in the lineup for the Oval Test, with Australian great Shane Warne publicly questioning why the veteran had been selected ahead of young gun Pat Cummins.
But his return of 2-32 in the first innings, 4-35 in the second and a combined total of 17 maidens for the match highlighted his effectiveness.
When Australia needed a breakthrough, invariably it was Siddle who delivered – no more memorably than by claiming the final two wickets of the match following a lengthy rain delay.
They were traits sorely missed by Australia following the shock retirement of Ryan Harris on the eve of the series.
“He was excellent in both innings (and) gave us some control,” Lehmann added.
“So hats off to him, he was absolutely brilliant.”
Whether it be in the two-Test tour of Bangladesh in October, or during the Australian summer that will follow, it seems like Siddle will get more chances to cement his spot in the team.
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