India vs Australia | It’s amazing to come back into the ODI squad, says Peter Siddle

Victoria bowler Peter Siddle is back in the Australian one-day team after a gap of more than eight years. The 34-year-old medium pacer made his debut in the year 2009 against New Zealand and played only 17 ODIs for the Aussies. The last time he played for Australia in limited overs cricket was back in November 2010 in an ODI against Sri Lanka in Sydney. 

India won the Test series 2-1 and drew the T20I series 1-1 as well before getting ready to take on the Aussies in a three-match ODI series starting from January 12. Siddle is amazed to make a comeback and is eager to do well for the hosts in the upcoming one-day series. 

"It's pretty amazing, I never really thought it'd come. To get another one-day game hadn't even crossed my mind. I had my 34th birthday a few weeks ago and to have not played for a number of years, it's amazing to potentially get that opportunity again," Siddle told cricket.com.au.

"I know I'd worked hard and tried a lot of things to develop my white-ball game, but that was pretty much on the basis of trying to perform well for Adelaide, not so much thinking the one-day chance would come. I'm just as amazed as a young bloke getting his first call-up, that's what it feels like. It feels like I'm starting all over again, so I'm very thankful."

Siddle is currently a part of the Adelaide Strikers in the Big Bash League and has been very economical in the death overs which has helped him to earn a call from the selectors for the shorter format of the game. He was the most economical bowler in the domestic 50-over championship as well as he went for just 3.95 runs per over in seven matches for Victoria in the previous season. 

"I think there'll be a bit of an emphasis on death bowling and trying to perfect that skill for the team. The skills I've worked on over the last 12 months for the Strikers have set me up to at least have a crack at it,” the 34-year-old said. 

"I'm definitely up for it. If the role's there to play for this series or going forward, I feel confident I can step in and take on that role."

After playing 64 Tests for Australia, Siddle has expressed that he never thought of getting back into the limited overs cricket. He played Test cricket for Australia in the previous year when they had toured the UAE for a series against Pakistan.

"(I haven't thought about it) since the last World Cup and I probably wasn't really a chance then," he said. "And that was going to be my last opportunity, I would have thought.

"But now the position I'm in … the ball's in my court now to try and perform and take this opportunity that I've got. If that means I get a shot at a World Cup, I'd love to. I've played in most things I could have through my career, and probably the one thing I haven't played in is a World Cup," Siddle concluded.