Siddle reflects on Pattinson's 'rock bottom'

Peter Siddle has identified the moment his long-time friend and Test fast-bowling partner James Pattinson hit "rock bottom" in his injury-interrupted career.

Speaking on day one of the first Ashes Test at Edgbaston – a match in which both fast bowlers were recalled to the side – Siddle reflected on the February 2016 tour of New Zealand, when the injuries and ailments had piled up for his fellow Victorian to the point that he was broken in body and mind.

Until Edgbaston, it remained Pattinson's most recent appearance for Australia, with the then 26-year-old having flown home post-series with a stress fracture in his back, another in his shin, and a torn muscle in his stomach.

"I've been there from when he hurt his back the last time, in New Zealand," Siddle told Channel Nine. "He talks about being at rock bottom, people wouldn't have seen that.

"I remember being in the physio room with him then for a whole session. He was upset, close to tears. He didn't know if he'd play cricket again, let alone for Australia."

Pattinson claimed two wickets on day two in Birmingham, finding the edge of opener Jason Roy's bat and then trapping Joe Denly lbw to signal his return to the big time.

The right-arm quick was regularly threatening during a tense period in the match, and his figures of 2-54 from 17 could have been more impressive had some luck gone his way – most notably when he beat England captain Joe Root only to see the ball clip the off stump, the bail lift ever-so-slightly, and then settle back in its groove.

But Siddle said the key takeaway at this point – and after a summer in which he successfully returned to domestic cricket with a Sheffield Shield title – was simply that the tearaway is back on the park, fit and smiling.

"To see him playing cricket this summer with Victoria, enjoying it and just having fun with it, and seeing how pumped up and excited he's been in the lead-up (to the first Test) this week, it's been amazing," the 34-year-old said.

"I've known him since he was six or seven years old, so he's been like another younger brother to me.

"We've won club premierships at (Premier Cricket club) Dandenong together, Shield titles together.

"The moments we've had out in the middle walking on the ground representing our country, it is pretty amazing.

"I haven't done it with my brother but I've done it with the closest bloke to it."

And in this, the 14th Test the two have played together, Siddle believes the key to success for fast bowlers comes back to the typical formula in English conditions.

"It's about patience (and) bowling in the right areas," he added. "I know that sounds pretty basic and simple, but sometimes that's what you have to do over here.

"The ball will do enough for you, so as long as you get it in the right areas, you know you can get the wickets."

2019 Qantas Ashes Tour of England

Australia squad: Tim Paine (c), Cameron Bancroft, Pat Cummins, Marcus Harris, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Michael Neser, James Pattinson, Peter Siddle, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Matthew Wade, David Warner.

England squad: Joe Root (c), Moeen Ali, Jimmy Anderson, Jofra Archer, Jonny Bairstow, Stuart Broad, Rory Burns, Jos Buttler, Sam Curran, Joe Denly, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes (vc), Olly Stone, Chris Woakes.

First Test: August 1-5,Edgbaston

Tour match: Australians v Worcestershire, August 7-9

Second Test: August 14-18,Lord's

Third Test: August 22-26, Headingley

Tour match: Australians v Derbyshire, August 29-31

Fourth Test: September 4-8, Old Trafford

Fifth Test: September 12-16, The Oval