Meat is off the menu for converted vegetarian Peter Siddle but the wicket-hungry paceman is ready to tuck into a large serve of South African batsmen in next month’s potentially explosive Gabba Test.
The Proteas return to the Gabba for the first time in 49 years armed with the fastest bowler on the planet, Dale Steyn, heading their scary pace battery and world cricket’s most feared all-rounder Jacques Kallis (12,600 runs and 280 wickets) still terrorising top-shelf bowling attacks at age 37.
Siddle, who has fond memories of the pacey Brisbane ground where he snared a magical Ashes hat-trick against England in 2010, warned Australia would deliver some fireworks of their own in the November 9-14 showdown, the first of three Tests between the first and third ranked countries in world cricket.
“It’s obviously our home turf and we (bowlers) want to show them who’s boss in that sense,” declared a leaner Siddle, who has turned vegetarian to help lose weight to accommodate a slightly modified bowling action.
“It’s the force we (bowlers) can have when blokes come in and out of the side.
“Mitch Starc came in, Patrick Cummins earlier on, James Pattison along with Ryan Harris, Hily (Hilfenhaus) and myself.
“If we can get firing again this summer and really give it to them we can really push to be that No.1 bowling attack in the world.
Siddle, who has reportedly given up alcohol for six months, says things could get “very aggressive” between the bowlers.
“The last two series’ against South Africa it has got pretty fired up. The bowlers do tend to go at each other pretty fiercely and I don’t that that will change,” he said
“We like to have a crack at them and they like to have a crack.
Siddle and swing bowler Ben Hilfenhaus are strongly fancied to lead Australia’s bowling with input from young guns James Pattison, Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc.
“We all know about the workload issues and the injuries we’ve had in the past so it’ll be good to be able to keep the bowling line-up fresh, strong and fiery for a big 18 months coming up,” he said.
Siddle, who posted a career-high 87 runs in Victoria’s 10-wicket Shield win against Western Australia last weekend, said the grit and experience of seasoned hands Ricky Ponting and David Hussey would be vital against such an intimidating pace attack.
“They worked well the last few years under the constant pressure of what going to happen to their careers,” he said.
“Punter (Ponting) showed last summer under all the media pressure and speculation that he can perform and Hussey is in great form.”
Siddle will use this week’s Shield clash with defending champions Queensland to fine tune his action for the Test.
