Sheffield Shield snub may signal end to Peter Siddle’s Ashes ambitions

Barely a month ago Peter Siddle was tipped for an Ashes call up. Now he may be the spare quick out for a home Sheffield Shield final, down to fourth in Victoria’s fast bowling pecking order.

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Barely a month ago Peter Siddle was firmly in the conversation for an Ashes call up. Now he is sweating on selection for Victoria’s Sheffield Shield final, with the veteran quick down to fourth in the fast bowling pecking order in his own state.

Victoria coach Andrew McDonald confirmed that a match-day decision will be made between Siddle and young batsman Sam Harper, as Victoria weighs up the balance of the team charged with taking down NSW this weekend.

The Junction Oval wicket will determine the final member of the eleven — and a four-pronged fast bowling attack, along with spinner Jon Holland, remains an option — but the uncertainty over Siddle’s involvement is evidence of how quickly stocks can rise and fall in an Ashes year.

Peter Siddle’s Ashes hopes now appear distant at best. Picture: AAP

A fit-and-firing James Pattinson has tracked imperiously in the opposite direction.

The injury plagued paceman has taken 10 wickets at an average of just 12 in the past two games and seems a lock for the Ashes — if his body holds up.

McDonald said Pattinson could “light up a game” and will lead the attack against NSW.

Scott Boland, who missed last week’s game against South Australia, is a certainty to return after being voted Sheffield Shield player of the year for his 45 wickets in nine games.

Chris Tremain has been a warhorse for the Vics over the past four seasons, with 42 scalps in nine matches this campaign, and took seven wickets in a man-of-the-match effort against SA last week.

James Pattinson has been in sensational form on return from his latest injury.

Andrew Fekete, who also played against SA, was omitted from the original 14-man squad.

That leaves 34-year-old Siddle, who took six wickets when the Vics defeated NSW at Drummoyne earlier this month, as the quick set to miss should McDonald decide to go with the extra batsman.

His hopes are not entirely extinguished, however. New rules mean that for the first time in a Shield final a draw is not enough for the table-topping hosts. The need for 20 wickets could sway Victoria towards loading up on bowlers.

The Vics have played four fast bowlers before this season, including against SA, with Pattinson batting at seven, which McDonald couldn’t rule out doing again.

Cameron White will play in place of the injured Nic Maddinson. Pic: AAP.

“Cameron White will play and then it comes down to Sam Harper and a bowler,” he told the Herald Sun — the loss of batsman Nic Maddinson having opened the door for the soon to be out of contract White to play what could be his last game for the Vics.

“If we play three quicks and a spinner, then Harper gets the nod. If it’s four quicks and a spinner, he doesn’t.

“It really is an educated guess, and hindsight will tell you whether it’s right or wrong. But we’ll make the best decision for the team.

“There’s always going to be difficult calls coming in to finals and unfortunately we have had some very good players over the journey and they all can’t fit in to the final XI. It will purely be what we think is best for the team, based on the conditions which present on Thursday morning.

“The wicket has changed even in 24 hours from Tuesday to Wednesday. We’ll assess it and make the final call on the morning of the game.”

McDonald was glowing in his praise for Pattinson who has returned to his fearsome best after suffering a back injury during the Big Bash.

“He has great presence, he can light up and game, and it’s exciting, it’s exciting to have him in our team,” he said.

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“He definitely makes guys walk taller and you know when he is in the game with the ball in his hand something is going to happen.”

The Vics are favourites to win a fourth Shield title in five seasons, having also secure the domestic one-day competition.

POSSIBLE VICTORIAN XI

Travis Dean (C), Marcus Harris, Will Pucovski, Matt Short, Cameron White, Seb Gotch, Sam Harper/Peter Siddle, James Pattinson, Chris Tremain, Scott Boland, Jon Holland