Published: Jan 24, 2013, 04:51 PM (IST)
Edited: Jan 24, 2013, 04:51 PM (IST)
Peter Siddle hopes to stay fit and injury-free ahead of an important tour of India © Getty Images
Melbourne: Jan 24, 2013
Australian pacer Peter Siddle is set to opt out of his Shield games in order to prepare himself for the upcoming tour of India in February-March.
While Victoria and Australia teammate James Pattinson is set to return to action in Thursday’s Sheffield Sheild clash at Adelaide, Siddle is going to remain at Melbourne to train on his own.
This training will include a lot of running sessions, bowling in the nets and weights in the gym to prepare the fast bowler for a gruelling four-match Test series starting in Chennai on February 22.
Asked if he was doing this on the advice of the selectors, he said, “That was part of my plan, more so than the selectors.”
”I had long chats with them about the history. I’ve played 13 first-class games two years ago just gone and, leading into March-April, I’ve broken down in the corresponding series afterwards.So that was the thing that I’d brought up, that I’d had little niggles.It’s such a big year ahead and the best preparation was to try to freshen up as best I can,” he said on Thursday, as reported by Sydney Morning Herald.
”This is the best way to do it, to have three or four weeks like a mini pre-season and get stuck in and really work hard on the fitness.
“Get the weights back into it and get the strength back in throughout the body that has worn off through a hectic summer, and get the body strong again for India and leading into the Ashes.
”I know my body best and I knew this is the best way forward.”
Siddle picked up 24 wickets in five Tests for Australia in the summer against South Africa and Sri Lanka. But, he missed out the final Test against South Africa at Perth due to a hamstring injury.
