Peter Siddle says he’s far from a spent force as he eyes return to Test team

INJURED fast bowler Peter Siddle wants national selectors to send him to India in February and says he can wear the Baggy Green for another five years.

INJURED fast bowler Peter Siddle wants national selectors to send him to India in February and says he can wear the Baggy Green for another five years.

The Victorian favourite has revealed he tore two ankle tendons and ripped “a bit of bone” off his fibula last summer, leading to a changed action which aggravated stress fractures in his back.

But Siddle has written a lean 2016 off as a “gap year” and declared the refresh will evolve into a blessing for his longevity at the top.

Siddle has not bowled since the November 3 Test against South Africa — when Australia’s batting collapse contributed to his break down.

The veteran said sending down 38 overs in a short turnaround was the “worst case scenario” and a scan following the defeat ruled him out.

Prescribed rest for a month, Siddle has ramped up his recovery with weights, running, pilates and swimming the past fortnight and will return to the nets next week.

A positive scan in early January could pave the way for Siddle to return for Melbourne Renegades against Sydney Sixers on January 9.

With tour matches to lead into the February 23 Test against India and a home Ashes series next summer, Siddle warned he was not a spent force.

Peter Siddle, seen here with Australian coach Darren Lehmann, still thinks he has plenty to offer. Picture: Getty Images

“I only just turned 32 so (I can play) for another four or five years,” he said.

“Get the body right, 100 per cent, and I can have a crack at it for a long time yet.

“I’ve played 62 Tests now and I’ve been written off from about my second one.”

Siddle said his quiet 2016 was “good for the body and soul” and the constant selection pressure he faced was a symptom of being the first-change quick.

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“It makes those training sessions a bit more of a challenge and makes you prepare a little bit better going into those games to perform,” he said.

“I’m probably at my best when those discussions come up and I know I have to work harder at training.”

Siddle, who took a hat-trick on his 26th birthday in the 2010-11 Ashes, declared he was fit to play against South Africa last month.

Billy cart fun ... Siddle pushes Melbourne Renegades teammate James Pattinson. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

“A couple more Shield games (beforehand) might have been handy,” he said.

“But I played an extra Matador game. If you’re feeling good you’re feeling good. If I wasn’t quite right I’d just tell them. I’m not stupid.

“I got the scan early on (and) caught it. That one more match down in Hobart, if I’d pushed through that it could’ve been a lot worse.”

An upbeat Siddle was certain his back would heal with time.

“(This injury) makes it a little bit harder to push and be right for India, which is a little bit frustrating.

“But I’ll get it right. Fully healed, get some good strength back and some good bowling under my belt and I know I’ll have a good chunk of years to have a good crack at it.

“The end goal is always to be pulling on the Baggy Green and playing test matches. That’s all I think about now and that’s what I want to do.

“That’s why I’ll go out and train hard and get up early and do what I have to do to get it right.”