Australian pacer Peter Siddle feels his team's bowlers have "strangled" India in the ongoing Test series and being the spearhead, he would not loosen the grip by sitting out of the fourth and final Test even though its result is incosequential to the final scoreline.
Australian pacer Peter Siddle feels his team's bowlers have "strangled" India in the ongoing Test series and being the spearhead, he would not loosen the grip by sitting out of the fourth and final Test even though its result is incosequential to the final scoreline.
"The biggest thing so far in the series is the pressure we have been building against them. We have strangled them and I'd like to be part of doing that again," Siddle said.
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"Any opportunity to play for Australia is a great honour and I definitely don't want to give my spot up to anyone else and let them have the opportunity," added the pacer who has 17 wickets at an average of 19.58 from the series.
The third Test of the series, which Australia leads 3-0, got over in less than three days at Perth and Siddle said it was surprising that the game wrapped up so early.
u00a0"I've pulled up really good. It's always nice to finish up in just over two days. It was quite a surprise that we got it done so early and it was good to get home for a few days. "I'm feeling good, the body's great and I'm looking forward to getting over to Adelaide," he said.
Siddle is the only Australian fast bowler, who has played in all eight Tests this season, and despite the rotation policy of the selectors, isn't interested in giving over his place to somebody else.
"We'll have to see what happens in the future - whether it's the one-dayers, in the West Indies, that sort of thing. We'll have the discussions, but my thoughts are definitely to play," he said. Siddle presently has 108 wickets in his 30 Tests at an average of 29.75.
"I've had a couple of relaxing days off (since the Perth finished in little more than two days) and I've pulled up really good. I will get to Adelaide and see what is on their (selectors) mind but I want to play," Siddle said.
The bustling fast bowler from Victoria is still hurt after he was dropped in Sri Lanka last September after playing 23 Tests and picking up 78 wickets.
"I was disappointed in Sri Lanka when I was dropped. It hurt. I had to try harder, and I did," he said.
Siddle has reworked his action, ensuring his arm doesn't drop upon delivery and is enjoying being the leader of Australia's pace battery.
"Consistency and patience is working and sharing the load with the other boys and leading them is good fun."
He thanked Australia's new bowling coach Craig McDermott for advising him on how to keep opposing batsmen under pressure and "how to get certain players out."
"Everyone always goes on about batting partnerships but it is the same with the bowlers. We have worked well together to keep the pressure on and the consistency and patience we have as a unit is working at the moment."
Siddle said India was an experienced Test side and "they are not going to make it easy for us."
Siddle knows that one of the four fast bowlers -- Ryan Harris, Mitchell Starc, Ben Hilfenhaus or him -- would miss out in Adelaide to accommodate off-spinner Nathan Lyon.
But he wants to stand up to the interrogation by the selectors and convince them to include him for Adelaide.
The fourth and final Test begins next week on January 24.
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