Australia fast bowler Peter Siddle has announced his retirement from international cricket on Sunday, bringing down curtains on his 11-year career. The 35-year old announced the retirement in front of the Australian squad at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).
The fast bowler has featured for Australia in 67 Tests and picked up 221 wickets at 30.66 including eight five-wicket hauls. He also played 20 ODIs where he picked up 17 wickets and in two T20Is, he took three wickets. Hee was out of the radar for quite a while, but he made a stunning comeback in this year’s Ashes where Australia retained the urn.
Siddle revealed during an interview with Fox Cricket why it was the perfect time to hung his boots. He also expressed his mixed feelings after announcing the retirement.
“It’s always hard to know when the right time is,” he told Fox Cricket. “The Ashes was the main goal, to try and get on that touring party and be a part of that series.”
“Once I’d ticked that off, I was talking to ‘Painey’ (captain Tim Paine) and JL I thought I could have done it there, but the chance of getting one last crack if it came in Australia, to (have one more Test) at home would have been nice. To think as a young kid I wouldn’t get a chance to play, I’m obviously very happy and a bit sad,” he said.
The fast bowler made his debut in the longer format of the game against India in Mohali and famously claimed the wicket of batting legend Sachin Tendulkar as his maiden scalp. He also took a hattrick against England at the Gabba in the Ashes 2010-11 series.
Meanwhile, Siddle also announced that he will continue to play domestic cricket for Victoria, BBL cricket for Adelaide Strikers and for the England county club Essex.
“I’m still going to play cricket for Victoria, still going to go over and play county cricket for Essex, I love playing cricket. So I’m going to keep playing for as long as I can. I’m enjoying myself, I love the Big Bash, and to have games like the other night (against Melbourne Stars) is pretty weird I’d told JL (Justin Langer) the day before that I was done, and the relief of being able to go out with no pressure on my shoulders probably helped,” he concluded.
