Veteran Australia paceman Peter Siddle is hoping to realize his dream to play in the Boxing Day Test after being recalled as a replacement for the injured Josh Hazlewood for the second Test against New Zealand to be held at Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) from December 26.
The national selector has given a “last chance” to the 35-year-old for the Boxing Day Test especially for his match-winning abilities and experience at the MCG, as well as, in order to manage workloads of Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins in the ongoing three-Test series at home.
He is excited to be back at the national Test side while hoping to get "one last crack" to bowl in front of the home crowd at the MCG, saying he is aiming to grab the chance and make the most of the opportunity against the Black Caps.
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ICC quoted Siddle as saying, “It always was a dream of mine to play in a Boxing Day Test when I was younger being a Victorian. Whenever I get the opportunity to play at the G, I've wanted to perform and do well. And yeah it's definitely going to be my last chance getting a crack at it. Fingers crossed but like I said, wait and see. Bowl well and see what happens. I've never been one to worry too much about the selection part of things. Make sure I'm ready and that stuff will either happen or not.”
About his selection for the MCG Test, the bowler said: “It's always hard to say, isn't it? [chances of playing]. At the end of the day, there've been two guys on standby throughout the previous series and this Test against New Zealand. I'm probably down the pecking order a little bit but yeah it's nice to be back in the squad. Home-ground and a ground I bowl well at. So that's all I can hope for and we'll see what happens in four days.”
The veteran pacer was given the chance despite he didn’t finish the Ashes 2019 series well in England took only 7 wickets in three Tests and he is looking forward to one last crack at home.
Siddle explained, “I'm not worried about proving people wrong. At the end of the day, I'm just trying to stay fit and stay ready. I just want to play cricket. I love playing it. If I probably didn't enjoy playing, I would have retired two years ago when I had that last big injury.”
He signed off by saying, “Obviously didn't finish well in the Ashes, the injury and all that but yeah one last crack at home. We'll see how it goes. It's exciting isn't it, doesn't matter how old you are. To get the phone-call and be back around the group. It's exciting times.”
(With ICC inputs)
