He helped Josh Hazlewood collect his first Test wicket, but Peter Siddle has insisted he is not finished as a Test bowler as he confronts the prospect of missing a Boxing Day Test for the first time in six years.
As he nears the end of the most challenging year of his career, the 30-year-old fast bowler says there is no point whingeing about losing his Test spot and promised he will do everything he can to help the next generation of quicks reach their potential. But no one should make the mistake of thinking he's not hurting.
"A lot of people go, you don't look too disappointed, but I'm bloody disappointed," Siddle told Fairfax Media. "I want to be playing all the time. But if I keep worrying about that I won't be able to move forward and do all the things I want to to get back in, or help the team out."
On day one in Brisbane, when he was on as a sub fielder for Mitchell Marsh, that included having a word to Hazlewood, the towering youngster who took his place in the attack, about how to bowl to Cheteshwar Pujara, the batsman who anchors the Indian line-up.
"They were in a bit of a partnership and I said to him, maybe a few bouncers here from this end. It was just funny it ended up getting him his first wicket. It mightn't have been out [Pujara was caught behind off the grille of his helmet], but it's the umpire's decision and that's how it goes," Siddle said.
"It's competition, but at the end of the day we're on the same team and we want to win Test matches. Anything I can do to help him out I will do."
Siddle was unwell during the Adelaide Test, in which he took two wickets, and had a difficult series on flat pitches in the UAE. He's read the speculation that his Test career is over, but says the selectors know he offers a fit, durable alternative if a younger paceman falters.
"I always read the papers, whether it's good or bad, it's never really worried me. It does spur you on a bit and it's a good challenge. It gives me a goal to chase. Now it's about trying to get back in the side and trying to win Test matches," Siddle said.
"I bowl lots of overs and my consistency has improved a lot over the last couple of years. Obviously I want to be playing but it gives them that banker to know that, when called upon, they know what they can get out of me.
"Adelaide was a big disappointment for me. I know how well I bowled there two weeks before against South Australia against some leading run scorers in the season, I was feeling confident. Getting sick during the match killed off a lot of hope that I was fit and strong out there. It hampered me a bit but that's part of the game."
Following Hazlewood's seven wickets in the Gabba Test, Siddle's hopes of playing on Boxing Day appear to rest on the fitness of Ryan Harris. The Victorian has a proud record in Boxing Day Tests, with 23 wickets at an average of 24 in six matches including a six-wicket haul in the 2010 Ashes Test and three in each innings against India three summers ago. But if Harris overcomes a groin complaint he is expected to replace Mitchell Starc in the side that lead India 2-0 ahead of the MCG fixture.
"At this stage you're probably thinking you're not in the side, but hoping to get in ... All I can do is train as well as I can in the nets and hope the opportunity comes up. It's such a big occasion for anyone playing cricket, especially a Victorian. Hopefully I can be part of it, but it's out of my hands."
One of the most frustrating aspects for Siddle about his axing is that the Sheffield Shield season is in hibernation until February, so although he dashed to Sydney to play for the Melbourne Renegades last week, there is little other cricket to play.
"It's a bit of a nuisance and it does make it hard but that's part of the game," Siddle said. "All I can do is bowl well in the nets ... If my opportunity comes here or Sydney, whenever it might be, I've got to keep doing everything to make sure I'm ready to go.
"It is going to be performance-based now, that's just how it's going to be if people are fit. It's going to be hard work for me but I love a challenge."
