Veteran Paceman Ready to Haunt England Again
At 41 years young, Peter Siddle is preparing to reignite his famous rivalry with England when he represents the Prime Minister's XI against the England Lions this Saturday at Canberra's Manuka Oval. Fresh from celebrating his birthday, the seasoned fast bowler remains as competitive as ever, declaring there's no greater satisfaction than dismissing an English batsman.
Shock Selector Call and Unwavering Passion
Siddle's return to the international cricket scene – his first appearance since 2019 – came as a surprise even to him. The call from selector Tony Dodemaide found Siddle recently returned from playing short-format cricket in Canada and contemplating club-level preparations for his upcoming Big Bash League stint with the Melbourne Stars.
"It was a weird phone call to get," Siddle admitted to The Canberra Times. With Shield cricket creating a hectic schedule and teams managing bowler workloads, selectors turned to the veteran, knowing he was already training with Victoria.
He didn't hesitate to accept the opportunity. "I love competing, I love a challenge and this is an opportunity to dip my toes back in for a little bit of a taste of international cricket again," Siddle said. "I would have been bowling 10 overs anyway [at club level], so why not get it in a high quality game against the English."
Fifteen Years On From Ashes Glory
The timing is poignant. It was nearly fifteen years ago to the day that Siddle delivered one of the most memorable moments in recent Ashes history – a stunning birthday hat-trick at the Gabba that electrified the crowd and dismantled the English batting order.
While hopes are high he can conjure similar magic in the capital, Siddle has firmly ruled out any potential Ashes comeback, despite current injury concerns within the Australian Test bowling squad.
"No, there's definitely no scenario of that happening," he stated unequivocally. "As much as I'd love to do well this weekend, it's not going to change my mind with where I'm at in my career." He believes the match is a chance for younger players to press their claims for later in the series.
Mentoring the Future and Chasing BBL Glory
This PM's XI appearance isn't just about personal performance for Siddle. He's eager to embrace a mentoring role for the next generation of Australian fast bowlers, sharing the wisdom gained from a long and distinguished career.
Despite being content with his career achievements, the competitive fire still burns. Siddle has clear goals for the future, primarily winning a maiden Big Bash League title with the Melbourne Stars in what is the final year of his current contract.
"I'm happy if this is the last year playing cricket," Siddle reflected. "But if I'm still still competing, still performing well for my team, and there's an opportunity to continue on after this, I'll see how it goes." For now, his focus is squarely on Saturday and proving that age is merely a number when you have the heart of a champion.
