Dandenong Panthers fast-bowler Peter Siddle will tour India next month as part of a 14-man Australia A squad. Picture courtesy, Garry Sparke.By Paul Pickering
DANDENONG Panthers paceman Peter Siddle is one step closer to securing a baggy green cap after being selected in the Australia A side that will tour India next month.
Siddle, 23, has long been touted as a likely Test player, but the September tour will be his first opportunity to represent his country.
The bustling quick said he was surprised to get the call-up from national selectors last week – he needn’t have been.
“It’s my first time playing for Australia, so I’m really looking forward to getting out there and playing with some of the country’s best cricketers,” he said.
Siddle has earned the right to be considered in such elite company, having established himself as a top-line strike bowler for Victoria last season.
His Test stocks soared after a stunning individual performance in the Pura Cup final at the Sydney Cricket Ground in March, taking nine wickets in Victoria’s demoralising loss to New South Wales.
In Brisbane for a pre-tour training camp, Siddle reported that he has made a full recovery from the recurring shoulder injury that has hampered him throughout his fledgling first-class career.
“The shoulder’s coming along really well and I’m bowling and throwing at 100 per cent,” he said.
Siddle dislocated his shoulder during fielding practice with the Bushrangers early last summer, but he played through the pain to claim 33 wickets at an outrageous average of 15.75 in a handful of four-day games.
“It was a weird year to look back on, because it’s always frustrating when you can’t get on the park, but I did better than I expected in the games that I was out there,” he reflected.
Siddle’s modesty masks the fact that he is undoubtedly one of the country’s most promising pacemen.
He is aware of the hype, but it doesn’t affect him.
“You can’t worry too much about it,” he said.
“All you can do is go out and perform well, and if the opportunity comes up you have to take it.”
Siddle knows he won’t get a better opportunity to show his wares than the Indian tour, which will be only his second trip overseas.
“It’ll be my first time in India, so it’s a new adventure and I’m looking forward to seeing how the game’s played in a different country,” he said.
The 14-man touring party will be captained by Blues run-machine Simon Katich, and also includes fast-bowling prospects Ashley Noffke (QLD), Doug Bollinger (NSW) and Ryan Harris (QLD).
Siddle’s Victorian teammate Bryce McGain will share the spinning duties with 25-year-olds Beau Casson (NSW) and Jason Krejza (TAS).
The tour will include two three-day matches against India A and five-game triangular one-day series against the hosts and New Zealand A.
The opening match will be on Wednesday, 3 September.
Beyond that, Siddle is hoping for a full-season with Victoria and Dandenong this summer.
“I just need to stay healthy, play as many games as possible and keep on listening to the right people,” he said.
“The rest will look after itself.”
