Without Peter Siddle, Tim Paine believes taking on the Australian captaincy would have been an even harder assignment.
Victorian fast bowler called time on his international career on Sunday after being unable to break back into Australia’s formidable pace cartel.
But the plaudits for the popular 35-year-old have come in from everywhere, with Paine leading the tributes.
The wicketkeeper says becoming captain in the wake of last year’s Cape Town ball-tampering scandal would have been more difficult without Siddle’s support and guidance.
Tasmanian Paine had only re-entered the Australian set-up four months earlier following a seven-year absence when he replaced Steve Smith as skipper.
“He’s one of the best team men we’ve ever had,” Paine said.
“He’s had a phenomenal career. I’ve been really lucky the last 18 months to have his support in the time that we went through.
“(Siddle) has been a real sounding board, he’s an experienced man.”
Paine says Siddle has left such an impact on the Australian team that his work ethic and love for cricket would be modelled for years to come.
The Traralgon-born quick played 67 Tests for 221 wickets from 2008 until September’s fifth and final Ashes Test at the Oval in September.
“I just think he played the game of cricket the way it’s meant to be played,” Paine said.
“We spoke to our boys this morning about carrying on his legacy – just how much he loved playing for his country, how much it meant to him.
“He was just a legend of a man to have in your cricket team.”
anon
Roar Pro
Langer said Maxi hadn’t performed well in the past 12 months so that’s why they’ve dropped him. He’s averaged 33 at 132 in the past 12 months. Extraordinary numbers, even more so when you consider he comes in late. Langer is either taking a swipe at Maxi (borderline slanderous) or just isn’t paying attention. Siddle has averaged 40+ in his last 15 Tests but Langer was still trying to invent reasons to play him.
TheGeneral
Roar Rookie
Quote me where Langer has taken a swipe at Maxwell and Khawaja. And what have ODI's got to do with test cricket, not in the same ballpark. As for the ashes we rotated our bowlers according to conditions. Starc 1 game, Hazelwood 4, Cummins 5, Siddle 3 and Pattinson 2. Starc had only the one game due to conditions.
anon
Roar Pro
I’d like to know what his stats have been in recent years because he’s chucked pies for a while. Langer has his favourites. You can’t really take what he says seriously because there’s usually an agenda. He’ll snipe at Maxwell and Khawaja despite being two of the best ODI cricketers in Earth in 2019, he drop Starc on the back of a 10 wicket haul against Sri Lanka, but back to the hilt a 35 year old whose best days were behind him 5 years ago.
J.T. Delacroix
Guest
Likewise. ‘Anon’ has obviously never rated him. That’s his opinion I guess. But over 200 wickets & an Ashes hat-trick tell me that he was much better than just “ordinary”.
TheGeneral
Roar Rookie
Your comment is too ridiculous not to reply to. Lets take our legends out, Warne, McGrath, Lillee, Lindwall, Benaud and see what we have got. Peter Siddle 221 wickets @ 30.5 and described by you as an ordinary medium pacer. Lets look at some other "ordinary" bowlers with records similar to Siddle. Thompson 200@28, McGill 208@29, MHughes 212@29, Stark 240@27, McKenzie 246@30, McDermott 291@29, BLee 310@31, MJohnson 313@29, Lyon 380@32. Yes my word we have had a lot of ordinary bowlers over the years. Langer has just said on his retirement that his bowling in the first ashes test as he kept the pressure on while Lyon took the wickets at the other end as "The best wicketless spell I've ever seen". Not bad for a bowler 5 years after he should have retired (according to you).
fabian gulino
Roar Rookie
peter siddle his heart and soul for Australia.and he didnt take 220 plus wickets for nothing. and you called him a pretty ordinary medium pacer? I disagree.
anon
Roar Pro
Siddle is a pretty ordinary medium pacer that’s been fortunate to be backed in. He played a role but should have been retired from international duties 5 years ago. Dropping Starc for Siddle for the Ashes was a disgrace.