With the World Cup only months away, right-arm seamer Peter Siddle has reiterated his desire to break back into Australia’s limited-overs sides.
Often pigeonholed as a red-ball specialist, the 34-year-old capped 2018 with an impressive performance, returning 3/20 against Sydney Sixers for the Adelaide Strikers in the Big Bash League, bolstering his claims for a coloured-clothing call-up.
“I’d love to get back in the yellow-and-green for Australia in the shorter format,” Siddle said.
What a way to end 2018, Peter Siddle! The veteran quick was named the @KFCAustralia Player of the Match for his 3-20. Full report + highlights here: https://t.co/Cc17zEkATQ #BBL08 pic.twitter.com/3SLAqyKCRs
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 31, 2018
Siddle has played 64 Tests for Australia, claiming 214 wickets, but only 19 limited-overs internationals, and just two T20Is, the last of which came in 2010. In the Big Bash League he has now started coming into his own, though he feels he always had the skills to succeed in the shortest format of the game.
“I think I did [always have T20 bowling skills] but I hadn’t played enough to be able to bring them out,” he said.
“Last year, playing a full season gave me an opportunity to train and prepare for it.”
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“I’d love to get back in the yellow-and-green for Australia in the shorter format”[/caption]
Siddle returned to Australia’s Test squad after a two-year gap for the series against Pakistan last year, and since then, has been a consistent part of the national set-up, though he is yet to feature at home against India.
“If you go back to a couple of years ago, you’d probably think I’d run my course and might not get that opportunity again.
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“A good winter in England (with Essex) this year got me back in the frame. I’ve been around the Test team for the whole summer – I’m thereabouts.”
