Have played a lot of Test cricket and had a great career, said Peter Siddle
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Veteran Aussie pacer Peter Siddle, who will be turning 35 next month, acknowledges the fact that his Test career is drawing to its end. While he understands that it will be tough to break into the national side but he added that he has the fire and won't give up trying to get back in the mix.
Australian speedster Peter Siddle turns 35 next month and is clear about the fact that his international career is drawing to an end. The pacer also revealed that he bowled through pain in the final Ashes Test after he tore his hip flexor on the first morning but could venture nowhere close to his effective performance in the first two Tests of the series.
Siddle was Australia’s impact bowler in the first two Test matches of the series in Edgbaston and Lord's although his figures in the matches don't endorse the fact. Kangaroo head coach Justin Langar was so impressed by his spells in Edgbaston that he even went on to rate it as “the best none-for I've ever seen today."
With Australia’s big four, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc and James Pattinson, up and running, Siddle will have a real tough time breaking into the Test side. The return of Jhye Richardson, whose injury let Siddle into the Ashes squad in the first place, will only make things tougher for the veteran who has a burning desire to feature for Australia in the longest format.
"I'm not blind, I know my opportunities are smaller than they were in the past, but while I still love playing the game I'm still striving to be my best and try and play at the highest level and that is for Australia. I still want to continue that,”Siddle said told ESPN Cricinfo.
"If I do, I'll be a happy man. And if I don't, I'll still be a very happy man. I've played a lot of Test cricket now, I've had a great career. If I don't play again then so be it. But I've still got the hunger to pull on that Baggy Green to be a part of it. This summer could be the last chance I get. Who knows. But I'll keep striving for it."
Siddle hasn't been considered for the Australia A side which will play a day-night tour game against Pakistan. The A-side will feature a four-man pace attack which will feature the likes of Richardson, Michael Neser, Sean Abbott and Riley Meredith. Talking about his omission, Siddle said that tour matches are a great way for youngsters to get the taste of international cricket and added that he wasn't expecting to be selected at the age of 34.
"When you've been around 11 years and you're about to turn 35, I don't think you need to be picking me in any A side," Siddle said. "I think they know there. I think it gives them an opportunity to give blokes a bit of international experience.
"I know it's not classed as an international but it gives young guys a chance to play against an international team and get that little rise in intensity and it gives a chance to those guys to showcase their skills. And that's what you want it for. You want it as a younger side but you still want it to be the next tier of good young players."
Instead, Siddle will be spearheading Victoria’s pace attack which has been hammered in the absence of Pattinson, who is rested ahead of the Pakistan series.
