Australia v NZ: Australian fast bowler Peter Siddle reaches 200 wicket milestone
PETER Siddle became a worthy inductee into the 200-wicket club on Friday night, and is now just one step away from earning what he truly deserves – a Cricket Australia contract.
Cricket
Don't miss out on the headlines from Cricket. Followed categories will be added to My News.
PETER Siddle became a worthy inductee into the 200-wicket club on Friday night, and is now just one step away from earning what he truly deserves – a Cricket Australia contract.
Siddle’s milestone and Australia’s dwindling fast bowling stocks has highlighted what an oversight it was to overlook the whole-hearted fast bowler for a central contract earlier this year.
However, the 30-year-old is now just one match away from accumulating the points he needs (three Test matches in the year) to be upgraded to the deal he should have had all along.
When the next contract list is announced by April next year, Siddle is guaranteed of returning to Australia’s top 20 list, with his stocks rising rapidly in recent weeks.
Siddle admits he thought his career was over during the Ashes.
“In Nottingham when I didn’t get selected there I had a chat with Punter (Ricky Ponting) out in the middle while the boys were warming up and said, ‘I think my chance might have slipped away and I might not get the opportunity to take 200,” revealed Siddle.
“After The Oval I got close enough and got my chance here so it’s been a long wait to play again in Australia that’s for sure but it was nice to come out here again today and get the remaining two wickets and join the 200 club. It was a nice reward.”
Siddle blew a kiss into the sky after claiming the milestone and said it was for his grandmother.
“My nan’s not well back home.. she probably wasn’t watching but she’ll see the highlights.”
Siddle becoming just the 15th Australian bowler to take 200 Test wickets is proof of his skill and value – joining the likes of Warne, McGrath, Lillee, Johnson, Lee, Thomson, Benaud, Gillespie, Lindwall and MacGill to name just a few.
A year ago, 200 seemed so far away the eight wickets he needed might as well have been 100.
However, the sudden retirement of Mitchell Johnson and Mitchell Starc’s worrying injury drama has turned Siddle into an indispensable asset for at least the coming 12 months.
MATCH REPORT:Starc’s summer could be over
RICHARD HINDS:Pink ball proves an early success
This time last year Siddle was dropped after the Adelaide Test match, with selectors disappointed in his drop in pace.
They had made it clear they like their quicks bowling at 140km/h plus and the indicators were showing that with a horde of brilliant youngsters like Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Pat Cummins, and James Pattinson coming through, Siddle was becoming increasingly less relevant.
However, the fact Siddle was still included in the touring parties of the West Indies and England suggests in hindsight that he deserved a contract over a youngster like Pattinson for example.
The decision showed that Australia considered Siddle’s career to be winding down.
But in fact it’s just ramping up – former teammate Chris Rogers expressing his disappointment that Siddle wasn’t retained for the first Test of the summer in Brisbane after showing his class in the last Test of the Ashes tour.
Siddle is still struggling to push 135km/h and 2-54 is hardly show-stopping stuff.
However, he brings a steadiness and experience to an inexperienced attack that last night had an immediate effect.
Hazlewood seemed to relax with the consistent Siddle beside him, and Starc was used as an attack dog before he was forced off the field.
Siddle has been undervalued for the past year, but a career renaissance is beckoning.
AUSTRALIA’S FAMOUS 15
Shane Warne 708
Glenn McGrath 563
Dennis Lillee 355
Mitchell Johnson 313
Brett Lee 310
Craig McDermott 291
Jason Gillespie 259
Richie Benaud 248
Graham McKenzie 246
Ray Lindwall 228
Clarrie Grimmett 216
Merv Hughes 212
Stuart MacGill 208
Jeff Thomson 200
Peter Siddle 200
Carey set for Lord’s Test return after infamous Ashes stumping
Alex Carey will return to Lord’s for a Test the first time since the infamous Jonny Bairstow stumping without fear or regret and living proof that what does not kill you makes you stronger.
Starc makes $400K sacrifice by pulling out of IPL
Mitchell Starc has sacrificed close to a half-million dollars and the risk of being blackballed by the IPL by refusing to return to India due to concerns for his safety and family wellbeing.