Melbourne [Australia], Oct. 29 : Australian pacer Peter Siddle has insisted that he is not concerned about selection in the playing XI which would be taking on South Africa for the three-match Test series starting next week.
Chairman of selectors Rod Marsh surprised everyone by including uncapped fast bowler Joe Mennie, who plays for Redbacks, in the 12-man squad for the Perth Test starting from November 3.
The squad, announced on Friday, includes four pace bowlers - Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Siddle and Mennie - although only three are likely to play in the opening match.
"Coming off a long-term injury, all it was about was getting back and playing cricket, not worrying too much about selection and all that kind of thing.
I knew once I was fit and up and going, that the selection would look after itself. It was just a matter of getting the body right," news.com.au quoted Siddle as saying. The 61-Test veteran, who has not played in the longest-format of the game since February in New Zealand, returned to action in the domestic one-day cup earlier this month after an eight-month layoff with ankle and back injuries.
Ahead of the opening Test at the WACA, the 31-year-old hopes that the Perth pitch would be "more lively" than last year's road-like surface.
He, however, backed Mennie's inclusion in the 12-man squad saying the 27-year-old bowler has proved his credentials with good performances for Australia 'A' after he was the Shield's leading wicket-taker last summer.
"His figures show that he deserves it," Siddle said. The Australian Test squad for first two matches is as follows: David Warner, Shaun Marsh, Usman Khawaja, Steve Smith (captain), Adam Voges, Mitchell Marsh, Peter Nevill, Mitchell Starc, Peter Siddle, John Hazlewood, Joe Mennie, Nathan Lyon.
Source: ANI
