Australia’s Siddle announces international retirement

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MELBOURNE, Dec 29, 2019 (AFP) – Veteran Australian bowler Peter Siddle
announced his international retirement Sunday after a 67-Test career, with
national coach Justin Langer praising him as giving his “heart and soul” to
the team.

The 35-year-old had been called up to the second Test squad in Melbourne
but was not selected in the side to face New Zealand and decided to call it
quits.

“Just being able to play, to walk out, wear the baggy green — I’d
watched guys like Punter (Ricky Ponting), Steve Waugh, guys like that wear
it, represent Australia,” he said.

“Every time I stepped out was amazing, I don’t think I could pick one
special one.

“At the end of the day, to play one is amazing, to end up playing what I
did is truly special.”

Siddle, who played a key role in helping Australia retain the Ashes in
England earlier this year, went to the Australian dressing room at the
Melbourne Cricket Ground to tell his teammates personally.

“The year after I retired from playing, Matty Hayden and Ricky Ponting
were raving about this guy called Peter Siddle,” Langer said.

“If it came from them, you knew it was right and so it proved throughout
his brilliant international career.

“He is an unbelievable bloke and an extremely good cricketer. He is the
everything of what a team player is. He has given his heart and soul to the
Australian team and the game of cricket.”

Siddle took 221 wickets from his 67 Tests including eight five-wicket
hauls.

He is the 13th highest Test wicket-taker among Australian bowlers and is
best remembered for the hat-trick he claimed on his 26th birthday against
England in Brisbane in 2010.

He also played 20 one-day internationals and two Twenty20s.

Siddle will continue to play at domestic level, including for the
Adelaide Strikers in the Big Bash League and Victoria in the Sheffield
Shield.