Peter Siddle doesn’t envisage any issues with David Warner, Steve Smith comeback: ‘They’ll fit in fine’

Veteran bowler Peter Siddle has witnessed first hand the new players’ code under coach Justin Langer, so his does his take on the return of Steve Smith and David Warner come as a surprise?

Peter Siddle celebrates after dismissing Trent Copeland of New South Wales in the Sheffield Shield final at Junction Oval.

The culture in the Australian dressing room hasn’t changed so much that Steve Smith and David Warner can’t make a seamless return to the team according to veteran bowler Peter Siddle.

The 34-year-old spent the entire summer with the Test squad, and played against Pakistan last October witnessing first hand the new style implemented by coach Justin Langer.

Siddle, who throttled NSW on day two of the Sheffield Shield final with 5-28, conceded Langer did things differently to his predecessor Darren Lehmann, who resigned in the wake of the ball-tampering scandal.

Smith and Warner’s year-long bans for their part in the affair are officially over and ahead of their anticipated return to first the one-day team for the World Cup, then the Test team for the Ashes, Siddle didn’t envisage any issues.

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Peter Siddle believes there will be barely a ripple with the return of Steve Smith and David Warner to the national squad.

“I think they’ll fit in fine. I can’t see there being an issue. I have never had an issue with them along the way. Personally, I can’t see there being a problem,” Siddle said after his five-wicket haul at the Junction Oval.

“I don’t know if there’s any last effects from what went on. From my point of view, it’s done and dusted now, let’s just let them go about their cricket and hopefully they are in there sooner rather than later and can get back to their best, because we know they are world class players.

“We know how good they are as players and when they get to their best they are going to be vital to Australia being successful. I look forward to them getting their chance.”

Cricket Australia has carefully managed Smith and Warner’s reintegration in a bid to remove any lingering tensions.

Peter Siddle has taken five wickets for Victoria in the Sheffield Shield final.

A fired up Peter Siddle celebrates with his teammates after taking a wicket.

Warner also reached out to his former teammates to apologise for his actions.

Siddle, who was vocal about the pair serving out their bans when moves were made to try and reduce them, said the fact they couldn’t be leaders should also not be a problem.

Having been captained by Smith, Siddle said cricket was a sport which thrived on leadership from all players, regardless of tags. He said the returning pair didn’t have to do anything more than their job as batsmen when they start playing again.

“Cricket in general, yes we have the captain who is the leader, but the thing in cricket I have seen over other sports is that good teams have strong leaders in a group,” he said.

“You don’t have to have that tag as captain … you’ve got good players around just being leaders in the way they go about their business. I don’t think it’s going to make any difference with them.

“The way they lead as young guys, when they had titles, was they went about their business, they fought hard for Australia, they made runs. That’s all they have to do. They have to try any harder now when they come back.”