Australian injury-marred fast bowler Peter Siddle has thrown his complete support for players stance against ongoing payment dispute with its national board Cricket Australia while stating it is all about to strengthen the national players to give their best in the field of sport.
“It’s not so much to do with the situation we’re in now and pay now, it’s about the longevity of the game and making the game strong for the future and looking at that,” Siddle was quoted as saying by Herald Sun.
The 32-year-old bowler Siddle added the cricketers should be ‘treated fairly’ in a bid to make things easier for the young breed of cricketers, who are coming through the assembly line.
“The players play a big part in Australian cricket. We just want to be treated fairly,” Siddle said.
The Victoria-born right-arm fast bowler believes it has been a prime focus of players to play for the nation while expressing his satisfaction by stating cricket Australia has a bright future to rely on.
“That’s the big one… a lot of people believe that we are being selfish at the moment with what we want at the moment,” Siddle added.
The dispute between the Australian Cricketers’ Association escalated on the long-standing pay dispute which further saw current and former cricketers giving their views respectively.
“But it’s got nothing to do with that, it’s about making the game stronger for when we’re done and for the people that are going to play and continue after we’re finished,” Siddle further added.
Peter Siddle, the veteran paceman, has pleaded for Australian cricketers to be “treated fairly” amid the escalating pay dispute between Cricket Australia (CA) and the Australian Cricketers’ Association.
“It’s about making sure cricket’s strong, not just for now but for a long time and we want cricket to be around for a long time,” Siddle asserted.
Earlier, Australian players have warned the board that they might for a strike if their demands won’t be meeting until June 30 which is the deadline for the fresh deal.
Being at the centre of attention has been the revenue sharing model which according to CA should be revamped in order to deliver the finance according to the new policy which they believe would be flexible.
“For me it’s just about getting back for Victoria and I know when I’m 100 per cent fit and bowling well that selection will look after itself,” Siddle maintained.
Interestingly, Siddle was overlooked from the contract list for the national team when the list was announced in April, this year following his back injury.
“It gives me the challenge of pushing harder to get back in the side, which sometimes can be a bigger benefit than being always that certain starter,” Siddle stated.
The Victorian fast bowler revealed he is expected to make a return for the national team after scans revealed there was nothing serious on the injury part.
“I’ve obviously had a lot of longevity in the Australian team and obviously injuries gives other people opportunities, which is always disappointing,’’ Siddle said.
Since making his debut in 2008, Siddle has played 62 Tests for Australia in which he bagged 211 wickets at an average of 29.92. He had also played 17 One-day Internationals in which he claimed 15 wickets.
Siddle last played his last Test match against South Africa in November 2016.