Peter Siddle hits form in nick of time
Paceman Peter Siddle expects his latest match-winning feat to be rewarded by Test selectors.
Siddle took five wickets on Wednesday to bowl Victoria to a crushing innings-and-46-run Sheffield Shield win against a fragile South Australia.
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His devastating 5-31 on a placid Adelaide Oval pitch is a timely reminder to selectors who name Australia’s first Test squad on Monday.
Siddle is feeling pressure to retain his Test spot after a lean calendar year returning 51 wickets at an average of 53.70.
But Wednesday’s match-defining spell is compelling evidence for Test selectors to pick him.
“I hope so,” Siddle said. “It’s all I could do.
“I wanted to come out there and bowl well for the team and stand up for the team.”
Siddle claimed five of the initial six dismissals as SA crashed to a pitiful 130 all out in 40.3 overs.
And in the process, Siddle dashed the Test call-up hopes of SA opener Phil Hughes.
Siddle bowled Hughes for 11, after also dismissing the left-hander for seven in the first dig.
“I felt alright out there, had good rhythm, but it’s just nice to get the result,” Siddle said.
His heroics left SA captain Johan Botha in no doubt that Siddle should be an automatic first Test selection.
“Peter Siddle … world-class bowler,” Botha said.
“He’s not far away from 200 Test wickets … with Mitchell Johnson and Ryan Harris, that is a really top-three seam attack.”
Botha’s Redbacks were red-faced after collapsing in the second innings for a second consecutive game.
They fell apart after Victoria posted a whopping first innings of 7(dec)-607 – the visitors only called a halt an hour into the final day.
The Victorians declared when 176 runs in front with Siddle saying the visitors were mindful of SA’s similar last-day batting effort against NSW last game when skittled for 161.
Botha said other states would continue to view the Redbacks as weak until they produced better performances late in matches.
“It’s a tough result to get bowled out in 40 overs when they have just made 600 on the same wicket,” Botha said.