Australian seamer Peter Siddle has retired from international cricket with immediate effect.
Siddle played 67 Tests, 20 ODIs and two T20Is between 2008 and 2019. He famously took a hat-trick during the 2010 Ashes series.
The 35-year-old Siddle is currently playing for the Sydney Strikes in the 2019-20 Big Bash League. Bet365 have tipped the Adelaide Strikers at 5.50 to win the BBL this season. Alternatively, the Sydney Thunder at 6.00 are a good bet, too.
For all his success in Test cricket, where he took 221 wickets in 67 matches, Siddle has always been a really good Twenty20 bowler too. He flies under the radar and often strikes when his team need it most. He is tipped at 34.00 to take the most wickets in the Big Bash this season.
What Siddle said about retirement
“It's always hard to know what the right time is, it was sort of the Ashes – that was the main goal – to try and get on that touring party and be a part of that series,” Siddle told Fox Cricket.
“Once I'd ticked that off, I'd been chatting with JL and Painey throughout that series, I could have done it there, but the chance of maybe getting one last crack if it came up in Australia, do it at home would have been nice. But I can be content, 67 Tests, to think as a young kid that I wouldn't get a chance I'm very happy and a bit sad.
“As a young kid I wasn't super talented so I had to work hard for it. Just to wear baggy green, walk out with it, represent Australia. Chatting to three fast bowlers who are playing this Test, I played in all their debuts so to see all them go about it now, that's part of the reason, they are a lot younger than me and you see how good they are. Every time I stepped out was amazing.”
He was in the squad for Australia's for the second Test against New Zealand at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. He was not named in the XI, though, and informed his team-mates of his decision to retire on Sunday.
“Sids has been the heart and soul of the team for a long time. I remember coming up through with him through the academies and even back then he was one of the great team men, something he has continued to this day,” added Australian Test captain Tim Paine.
“He has a massive heart and is a fantastic bowler. He'll be very much missed around the group. He's been unbelievably good for our younger fast bowlers over the last 18 months and been a great support for me during that time, as well.”
