Mitchell Swepson’s SCG call up likely signals an end to Peter Siddle’s fine Test career
Just two June Test matches against Bangladesh in 2020, before India visit Australia in November, means few opportunities for 35-year-old Peter Siddle to force a return after Mitchell Swepson is picked for the SCG Test.
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The addition of leg-spinner Mitchell Swepson to the Australian squad for the SCG also signalled the quiet exit of veteran Peter Siddle, and possibly the end of his excellent international career.
A sparse Test calendar in 2020, with just two June matches against Bangladesh, before the arrival of India in Australia next November presents few opportunities for the 35-year-old seamer.
There were a few aggrieved scowls when Siddle was included in an extended squad for the Boxing Day Test after an injury to Josh Hazlewood in Perth.
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Australian coach Justin Langer was even accused of picking his “favourites” by former Aussie fast bowler Geoff Lawson, who it was later revealed missed out on a job as the national, bowling coach.
But Langer has long-regarded Siddle’s capacity to inject something special in to the Australian Test set-up. And the coach also pointed out Siddle played in the last Ashes Test at the Oval in September, in which he bowled with a hip-flexor injury.
When he was added to the squad for Boxing Day, picked as an MCG specialist, Siddle conceded he was a “realist” and a “bit down the pecking order” when it came to fast bowlers.
His great friend James Pattinson was then picked ahead of him for the clash with the Kiwis, and Michael Neser 12th man.
On numbers, with Josh Hazlewood certain to come back from his injury in the new year, Siddle is sixth in line, and that’s right now.
In another 12 months, with Jhye Richardson back up and going and the potential for Western Australian all-rounder Cameron Green to become available, Siddle takes a few more steps back.
The Victorian has vowed to play on, still “loving the game” and with lots of first-class cricket still to be played both at home and in England where Siddle remains highly-valued among county cricket teams.
If he never plays another Test, he’ll finish with 221 wickets, from 67 matches for his country, 13th on the overall list for Australia.
“I love playing the game, and if I stay on the park, keeping working hard, that’s all I can do,” Siddle said recently.
“If it gets me another game for Australia it does, if it doesn’t 67 Tests and a few white ball games chucked in there, I’ve had a pretty good career. I’ll be happy no matter what.”
Originally published as Mitchell Swepson’s SCG call up likely signals an end to Peter Siddle’s fine Test career
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