Siddle wanting Adelaide to strike back
DEALING with pain is all in a day’s work for Peter Siddle, be it helping bushfire casualties or confronting Brisbane Heat today with another hand injury.
Siddle’s right bowling hand has been stitched after tearing webbing in the Strikers’ loss in Brisbane on Tuesday.
He broke his left thumb during the Ashes series opener in Birmingham then bowled with a torn hip flexor in the series finale at The Oval.
“It’s not too bad, a bit sore but just get back out there, hopefully don’t have to stop too many balls,” said Siddle of a torn right hand which means he will have to ‘hide’ in the field.
“It is just part of the game. You always have injuries. As long as I am still useful for the team out in the middle I will stay out there.”
The Strikers need the 67Test veteran firing to help quell South African great AB de Villiers. Siddle noted de Villiers (40) and unconquered Matt Renshaw (52) were under ‘no scoreboard pressure’ chasing the Strikers’ 110 total in Brisbane.
“Hopefully we put a good score on the board if we bat first. We have to make sure we are on,” Siddle said.
“When you are not having to chase a high run rate it is a bit easier to work them around as they did. We get to have another crack at them again and hopefully turn the tables.”
Siddle’s Wickets for Wildlife campaign has raised more than half its $50,000 target with English champions Essex the latest to back its seamer. Siddle, Adam Zampa and Kane Richardson are among those donating $200 for every wicket they take this summer to help animals affected by bushfires.
“We are up to $27,000 at the moment, going well. Zamps and Richo over in India got a few wickets,” he said.
STRIKERS V HEAT
Adelaide Oval, 2.40pm (AEST)