Peter Siddle could bolt into Australia’s squad for the Boxing Day Test as Justin Langer searches for replacements for injured bowler Josh Hazlewood.
The Aussies want at least one extra quick in Melbourne, with Hazlewood battling to be fit for the Sydney Test next month.
Australia already have James Pattinson and Michael Neser in their 13-man squad, with the former the favourite to replace Hazlewood.
But Australia may still want extra cover in their squad for their quicks in Melbourne.
And if that is the case, Siddle appears in the box seat to be brought into the squad after his Test career looked likely to be over following the Ashes.
“We’ve started to think about (a squad replacement), the obvious one would be Peter Siddle actually,” Langer said.
“He did a really good job in the Ashes, he’s bowling very well for Victoria and it’s at the MCG where he’s played a lot of cricket.
“We’ll see what happens the rest of this game and then make a decision.”
Siddle has taken 12 wickets at 15.16 in three Shield matches at the MCG this summer.
He said last month he was refusing to give up hope on adding to his 67 Tests.
Selectors face an interesting month ahead in terms of their bowlers’ workloads.
Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins have been forced to shoulder the brunt of the work in extreme temperatures in Perth.
There is just a four-day turnaround between Melbourne and Sydney, which are both expected to be batting wickets meaning cover could be needed.
Adding to the problem is Australia’s lack of an allrounder.
Mitch Marsh will return to the Big Bash this week but is still up to a fortnight from bowling after he broke his hand punching a wall, while Cameron Green is also not yet bowling.
“We’ll have a look at the end of this Test how many overs the boys bowled, how long we were in there for the second innings,” Langer said.
“Without doubt, Patto and Michael Neser, they’ll be in the squad 100 per cent and we’ll look whether we replace Josh with another fast bowler.
“There are a few injuries and there’s a great opportunity in Australian cricket for someone to put their hand up and knock really hard on the door to fill that (allrounder) gap.
“There’s a lot of talk about allrounders but the truth is, whether it’s a club side, T20 side, Shield side, they all want an allrounder but there aren’t many of them around.”
anon
Roar Pro
I'm correct on this one.
Marty
Roar Rookie
Well I suppose you will always be correct when you are basing your judgements not on fact, but instead your own interpretation of events that never actual happened, and in fact you just made up ie Starc and Burns. It’s one way to never be wrong I suppose.
anon
Roar Pro
Selections are pretty easy when you base your decisions on form and numbers. I would have picked Burns and Starc for the Ashes. I was correct. Finch, Marsh brothers shouldn't have been anywhere near the Test squad last year. Subsequently picked and backed in. I was correct.
Jeff
Roar Rookie
Pattinson and Neser are the choices for the MCG I would think. Richardson is unlikely this summer now I think as he's rather under done having injured his side or rib in the OD matches and missing the last Shield round. I understand the sentiment re "it's time" for Tremain over Siddle, but Tremain simply hasn't put up the performances this year (outside of the match in Hobart) to warrant selection. We need to select on current form and not hope/anticipation I would think. Tremain's form is well down this season on his last couple of summers. - Siddle has 16 wickets at 16 this Shield season, of which 14 are top 6. - Tremain has 16 @ 20, but only 8 being top 6. But more relevantly if it's a Siddle v Tremain discussion for the MCG Test, the two bowlers have starkly different records at the G this Shield season (it's only 2 and a bit matches, but it's still relevant given the difference): - Siddle 12 @ 15 ave (10 wkts being top 6) - Tremain 4 @ 50 ave (2 wkts being top 6) Siddle has picked up 3 wickets in 4 of the 5 innings at the MCG this year. The last match was abandoned, where Siddle got 3, but Tremain also opened the bowling with Siddle. Tremain's picking up wickets, but a lot of these are in the lower order; he's not getting the breakthrough in the top/middle order as much as an opening/first change bowler should and he has opened or come on first change in most of his matches this season, though not as often as Siddle. They have both been pretty miserly, though Siddle more so.
maverick
Roar Rookie
Tremain has been outperforming Siddle for last 3 to 4 years. How many wickets has Siddle taken in his last 10 tests? It's time for Tremain,Neser,Richardson,not Siddle.
Marty
Roar Rookie
Wow! And here I was thinking that being a national selector was a difficult job, not for someone like you hey anon? If only you had been in charge, we wouldn’t have lost a series in decades. Something to you might want to bear in mind before you take on the job though – You don’t get to make stuff up in your head and claim it as fact ie if Starc and Burns played we would have won the series. I know it might seem a bit harsh but that’s kinda how things work in the real world.
Shellbell
Roar Rookie
With the restoration of Australian dominance on the back of NSW and QLD player,, albeit over teams which have collectively won one test here since 1995, it is natural for Langer and MacDonald to think about what can be done for the under performing WA and Victorians.
Gee
Roar Rookie
Jhye Richardson is injured so Siddle is the obvious back up quick. Pattinson should be in the 11, he is a proven test bowler, the MCG is his home ground were you need grunt because its flat and its a live test so he is certain to get the nod over Neser.
anon
Roar Pro
Got a few wickets on an MCG minefield, averaged 45 in England. Pie chucker.
anon
Roar Pro
Smith retained the Ashes, not Langer's selections. I wanted Burns opening, and Starc bowling all along. Instead, Siddle failed, Harris failed, Warner failed, Khawaja failed, Bancroft failed. Burns and Starc were such obvious selections. Select either of them and we win the series. Simple stuff. No credit to Langer for retaining the Ashes. He did everything to get in the way of us winning the series.
Marty
Roar Rookie
Well he was ‘up to’ coaching and selecting a team that retained the Ashes in England for the first time in 18 years. He was ‘up to’ coaching and selecting a team that won the series against Pakistan in a canter and is dominating the first test against NZ, not to mention the T20 form. Keep grasping at those straws mate, that’s the only joke in this situation.
Jeff
Roar Rookie
His FC record in England and in Australia this year would counter that opinion.
Charlie Turner
Guest
Bring in both Pattinson and Nesser as they both bat well and drop Wade or Head.
anon
Roar Pro
Siddle shouldn't be anywhere near the squad. Mediocre FC bowler.
Jeff
Roar Rookie
Siddle's "pies" are outperforming Tremain this FC season.
Jeff
Roar Rookie
Australian Democrats. Wait, who?
Jeff
Roar Rookie
"I would be looking more at Pattinson or Neser coming in. Jai Richardson wouldn’t be a bad choice either." Which is exactly what Langer said would be happening for the MCG (not Richardson, he's unlikely to be fit)
Jeff
Roar Rookie
What exactly is the joke? Assuming you are actually across what has been said by Langer rather than interpreting abstractly through red-mist glasses what the starting XI will be?
Jeff
Roar Rookie
There are a few that are blatantly anti-Langer and pop up whenever the opportunity arises to latch on to a broad comment and distort it to suit their bias.
Jeff
Roar Rookie
In fact Langer made it clear on radio this morning that Pattinson is almost certainly playing MCG, with Neser in the mix. He was asked if Australia would look broadly beyond the squad for the first XI and he said there was no need to with those two available. Correct Paul, at best Siddle is in the mix for the squad. Richardson still has rib or upper body soreness. If not Siddle in the extended squad who else has undisputed claims ahead of him?