Siddle ready for back-to-back Tests
Paceman Peter Siddle is confident he can bowl a mountain of overs on a flat Adelaide Oval pitch in the next Ashes Test then be ready to go again in Perth four days later.
Siddle, along with fellow quick Ben Hilfenhaus, was forced to sit out the Perth Test against South Africa last summer after a lion-hearted but ultimately vain slog in a draw in Adelaide.
He predicted England would also make Australia’s attack sweat at the batsmen-friendly venue despite the drubbing the home side gave them in the first Test at the Gabba.
“It doesn’t matter who you’re playing or what game it is over there, whether it’s a one-dayer or a Test match, it’s always tight,” Siddle told reporters in Melbourne on Friday.
“It is a tough ground to play at; the wicket can get pretty flat to bat on.”
But Siddle said Australia’s pace trio were feeling fresh after their relatively light workload at the Gabba – Mitchell Johnson bowled 38.1 overs, Ryan Harris 34 and Siddle just 26.4 – and the fact they have been rested from Sheffield Shield games.
He expected to have no problems bowling 60 overs in Adelaide, in the Test which starts next Thursday, then performing at full capacity on the pace-friendly WACA Ground.
“That would be the plan,” Siddle said.
“Obviously, I couldn’t last time but we had a big workload earlier on.
“This time, it’s obviously been a lot lighter.
“We’ve just got to play it by ear.”
Siddle said Australia’s quicks would aim to continue the aggressive and intimidatory tactics that worked so well in Brisbane.
He said while that approach might have to be modified for the conditions, first-Test hero Johnson had shown he could make the ball fly anywhere.
“We all saw Mitch bowl over in India on flatter wickets than we’re probably going to get in Adelaide and the pace and bounce he had on those wickets,” he said.
“We don’t know what’s going to be prepared for us.
“We’ll get over there, we’ll assess the wicket and see what plans we’ll go with.”
Siddle said while Australia took confidence from the first Test, they would expect England to show more fire in Adelaide.
“They’re going to be pumped up, they’re going to be ready to go and we’ve got to be obviously ready to match that,” he said.