As an emotional Australia get ready to play the final cricket Test at SCG starting Tuesday, medium-pacer Peter Siddle said his team is keen to put up a fine show in memory of late Phillip Hughes, who succumbed to a fatal bouncer on this venue five weeks back.
The Sydney Cricket and Sports Ground Trust has also planned to unveil a bronze plaque in memory of Hughes, who died two days after a Sean Abbott delivery hit the back of the helmet in a freak on-field accident.
Siddle, who was not picked for the Brisbane and Melbourne games after playing the first Test in Adelaide, said that keeping emotions in check will not be easy.
“I had an opportunity to fly down and play the big bash game couple of weeks ago down in Sydney during the Brisbane Test and I think turning up there was a bit awkward. little bit daunting at first to walk out on the ground and spend some time out there. It's going to be hard, we all know that,” Siddle told reporters here.
Having already reclaimed the Border-Gavaskar Trophy post the draw at Melbourne and a 2-0 series lead, Siddle said that great camaraderie between the players has made things easy.
“I think the lead ups are probably going to be the hardest. The best thing about all this is being able to be together as a team. That's what has kept us strong over the last couple of weeks. Some of our best friends doing it together and if we want to talk about it we can.
“It's going to be the best opportunity for us to be all together and be as one in that match. Once that match starts then we will get stuck in and put up a mighty fine contest for him,” he said.
Siddle, 30, who took two Indian wickets in the first innings of the opening Test went wicketless in the second innings and was not picked in the XI thereafter. But the bowler, a veteran of 56 Tests, believes that his part is to be fit and perform when required.
“Just been ready to go when the opportunity comes up. I guess that's the hardest thing. Brisbane gave us an opportunity for a bit of change and they took that and the boys took their chances. I think that's the nature of the game that you never want to give up your spot.”
After making his debut against India in 2008 at Mohali, Siddle has been in and out of the Australian side but he opines that in-house competition is always good.
“There's been loads of guys around for the last 5 or 6 years. There have always been people ready to go and ready to take your spot. What I have been able to do is stay fit and stay on the park.”
Agar hopes for SCG pitch to assist spin
With the Sydney Cricket Ground having a history of assisting spin from third day onwards, Australian left-arm orthodox Ashton Agar is hoping to get picked in the XI and play his part in the fourth and final cricket Test against India.
Agar, who joined the 13-man squad that regained the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, is keeping his fingers crossed for his Test return after nearly one-and-a-half years.
“Nothing's guaranteed. That's what I'm saying in my head,” Agar, who played his second and last Test in July 2013 in England, was quoted as saying on Cricket Australia website.
“I'm just going to try my very best to bowl well in the nets and from there it's pretty much up to the wicket.,” he added.
On the other hand India may also be looking to include rookie left-arm spinner Akshar Patel to field a two-man spin attack alongwith Ravichandran Ashwin at SCG.
Patel was flown in as a replacement for an injured Ravindra Jadeja currently undergoing rehabilitation for his left-shoulder injury.
Haddin ready for short-ball attack
Australian vice-captain Brad Haddin has said India is welcome to continue the short-ball attack on him in the fourth Test.
India's quickies have bombarded the veteran Aussie gloveman with the short stuff in the past two Tests to mixed success. Haddin managed just 19 runs in the first two Tests in Adelaide and Brisbane before notching up a vital 55 in Australia's first innings of the third Test.
Haddin can likely expect the same treatment in the final match beginning Tuesday but says it doesn't worry him.
"If that's their plan, they'll have plans for it and I'll combat them whatever way I see fit," Haddin was quoted as saying by cricket.com.au.
"If I see I need to change momentum of the game in the last hour and I need to get through that period and set up the game for our team. If their bowlers want to bang it down halfway for an hour and a half then go for your life."