It’s been quite a week for Peter Siddle.
Just a few days after being offered a new, two-year contract with English county side Essex, the 33-year-old has now been picked in the Australian squad for the October series against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates.
It seems the Victorian quick has one more chance in the Test side, but is he anything more than a stop-gap measure?
Siddle hasn’t played a Test for almost two years, and has been out of the frame in the shorter formats for even longer, so it’s a surprise to see that he is flavour of the month again.
But his performances playing for Essex in Division One of the County Championship these last few months have been impressive. In seven games, he has taken 37 wickets at an average of 16.4 – numbers any bowler would be proud of.
His ability to take regular wickets with good bounce and movement has surely caught the eye of the Australian selectors, although it’s his other qualities that have earned him a ticket to the UAE, according to the chairman of selectors, Trevor Hohns.
“Peter is a proven performer in the Test arena, who has been in outstanding form in his recent first-class outings over in England,” Hohns said when announcing the squad on Tuesday.
“His experience will be crucial for this bowling group, and we know that he is a warrior who can bowl the type of long, tight spells which may be required in the conditions we expect to face.”
Peter Siddle (Photo by Daniel Kalisz/Getty Images)
Reading between the lines, it seems Australian cricket’s most famous vegan is simply back in the team to replace the experience and incision of Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins, who are injured.
For the same reason, Aaron Finch has received a surprise call-up, even though he has never played a Test for Australia. It’s clearly hoped his ODI and T20 experience will help fill the huge gap left by David Warner and Steve Smith, who are still banned for the ball-tampering affair.
The question is whether Siddle, if he performs, will get further chances in the ensuing Australian summer, once the Indians and Sri Lankans come to town.
In the recent past, other names have been floated ahead of Siddle’s – think Chadd Sayers, Jhye Richardson and Jackson Bird. Yet Siddle is the man who is asked to fill the gap now, at this tricky time.
Of course, the 62-Test veteran will only get a chance this Aussie summer if he isn’t bowled into the ground in the UAE, in what is likely to be tough conditions for the quicks. Let’s hope that some judgement is shown and team management don’t take advantage of his famous work ethic.
If Siddle performs and comes through without any injury, he should be first backup choice this coming summer, if Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood or Mitchell Starc flounder.
Picking different bowlers for different pitches is one thing, but hard work should be rewarded.
Paul
Roar Guru
Chris Paine will be a happy man if Siddle holds up an end and takes 0/100 if the guys at the other end get 10 wickets for not many.
Andre Leslie
Roar Guru
I also don't expect any Aussie wins over there. Let's see if they prove us wrong.
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
He is just the man to hold up an end and bowl 40 overs 0/100 in the UAE. If that's what they want then I guess he's a good selection. Playing Siddle seems to be a move aimed at pushing for the draw from the very start.
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
Hard working is a term you give to someone who really doesn't bring much else to the table other than being hard working. If you are happy to have a bowler holding an end up without any real likelihood of taking any wickets, then he can do that. It's ridiculous to think that, despite averaging 40 in the last shield season, a handful of matches on English County greentops suddenly gets him in the frame for a test series in a place where the conditions will be about as opposite to that as they could get.
thecolumn
Roar Rookie
Good selection, will bring experience to the bowling attack.
peeeko
Roar Guru
ha, good old Bill. yeah he has a go but its not extraordinary
Andre Leslie
Roar Guru
Absolutely, he has to bowl well to be back in the mix properly. But just as Langer says 'we want batsmen to score hundreds to get picked for Oz' ... you shouldn't just be an up-and-coming bowler and then be first pick as a backup to Starc/Hazle/Cummins. Siddle is a pretty classy performer and has been for years.
Andre Leslie
Roar Guru
Good point. One of those partnership bowlers.
Paul
Roar Guru
I don't think Siddle's been out of mix in the past two years, his position in the packing order has simply changed. I agree hard work should be rewarded, as long as he comes back and bowls well. Numbers won't necessarily be the true indicator, but how well he supports the rest of the attack, how well he holds up and end, etc.
Paul
Roar Guru
He's Victorian peeeko and if you ask Bill Lawry, ALL Vic quicks are hard working! In fairness he does seem to really give it plenty late in the day on a regular basis.
Noah Barling
Roar Pro
Because he is often called on to keep an end tight and bowl long 6-8 over spells, something Starc and to a lesser extent, Cummins, cant do. He often is the workhorse of the attack setting up batsmen with line and length whilst the bowler at the other end takes the wickets.
Andre Leslie
Roar Guru
Fair point. All fast bowlers work hard at international level ... no question.... it's tough on the body. But Siddle does often get called hard-working by teammates and coaches etc. I suppose what contributes to the image is that he does tend to bowl first or second change, which means he doesn't get the benefit of a new ball - making him certainly work harder on, and with, the ball.
peeeko
Roar Guru
I always wonder why Siddle is assumed to be a harder worker than other bowlers