Australia Have To Be Prepared To Rotate Fast Bowlers During The Home Ashes, Says Peter Siddle

Former pacer Peter Siddle opines that Australia should opt for the rotate and rest policy during the Ashes to keep their fast bowlers fresh throughout the series.

Tim Paine’s side hosts a one-off Test against Afghanistan from November 27  in Hobart before the high-profile five-match Ashes series against England starting December 8 in Brisbane.

Peter Siddle, an Ashes-winning player himself, points out that Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, and Mitchell Starc were exhausted by the end of the India series, which was one of the reasons for their loss at the Gabba as the three speedsters played all four Tests.

Taking the example of Australia’s 2019 Ashes tour, where they won 2 Tests and returned with the run, Peter Siddle explains that the pacers were rotated throughout the tour with only Cummins playing all the Tests, and hence others were fresh whenever they were called upon.

“We’ve seen with the last two series against India in Australia, if there isn’t a really dominant force then it does take time to bowl the opposition out and a long innings does take a toll on individuals. So I think we’re going to have to be prepared to maybe rotate and have guys ready to go,” Peter Sidle told cricket.com.au.

“(In 2019 Ashes) We had Patto (Pattinson) and Ness (Neser) in and around that group waiting for an opportunity and when you’ve got blokes … ready to go, (playing) one Test here and there, similar to what we did in the Ashes over in England (in 2019), I think that’s a good look at the summer and how we can go about it.”

It keeps guys hungry as well: Peter Siddle

The 36-year-old further elucidated that resting a pacer would keep him hungry for more success. And while it may seem hard to leave a star player out of the team, it will only help him be ready and raring for the next game.

England in the past year during the pandemic times of the bio-bubble and packed schedule have opted for the rest and rotate policy where all the players at some point have been given rest despite being fit and available.

“It keeps guys hungry as well, when you miss out on opportunities. Mitch (Starc) was flying (in 2019), he was looking good, he was bowling well, but so was everyone else. When the whole bowling group is strong and they get along well and they’re happy with everyone’s success and how guys a going, I think it works well.

“Sometimes you might not feel like you need a rest, but you have that one week off and you hit the ground running harder the next game and actually perform better than you would have in the previous one,” Peter Siddle further stated.

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