AUS v IND 2018-19: Feeling "like a young bloke getting his first call-up", says Peter Siddle on his ODI return

Siddle last played an ODI more than eight years back.

Many of Siddle's teammates back then, are now retired | Getty

Peter Siddle felt delighted and satisfied on being rewarded with an ODI return after getting selected in Australia's 14-man squad for the three-match series against India. It, in fact, felt "like a young bloke getting his first call-up", Siddle says, whose last limited overs game for the country came in November 2010 versus Sri Lanka. 

The veteran fast bowler informed to have had "a few little chats" with head coach Justin Langer and bowling consultant David Saker over a one-day comeback having rejuvenated his limited overs bowling as a death overs specialist for Adelaide Strikers in the Big Bash League (BBL). 

The 34-year-old now wants to follow suit in that department for Australia with the ICC Cricket World Cup in England only six months away. 

"It's pretty amazing. I never really thought it'd come. To get another one-day game hadn't even crossed my mind," Siddle told cricket.com.au, "I had my 34th birthday a few weeks ago and to have not played for a number of years, it's amazing to potentially get that opportunity again."

"I know I'd worked hard and tried a lot of things to develop my white-ball game, but that was pretty much on the basis of trying to perform well for Adelaide, not so much thinking the one-day chance would come."

"I'm just as amazed as a young bloke getting his first call-up, that's what it feels like. It feels like I'm starting all over again, so I'm very thankful."

Australia's economy rate of 8.0 at the death in 2018 was the worst among the ten nations competing in the World Cup this summer - a major reason behind their most poor run of form, behind even West Indies, who conceded more than 7.3 runs per each over in the period 41-50. 

This is where Siddle, who has seen his white-ball resurgence with the help of Rajasthan Royals' bowler and BBL teammate Ben Laughlin, feels he can help the Aaron Finch led side overcome one of its biggest issues starting Saturday, January 12. 

"I think there'll be a bit of an emphasis on death bowling and trying to perfect that skill for the team. The skills I've worked on over the last 12 months for the Strikers have set me up to at least have a crack at it," Siddle said. 

"It's something I've worked on in the last couple of weeks leading into this Big Bash. I'm definitely up for it. If the role's there to play for this series or going forward, I feel confident I can step in and take on that role."

 
 

By Kashish Chadha - 06 Jan, 2019

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