Siddle eyes off Ashes series in England

Veteran quick Peter Siddle remains confident that strong performances with Essex in the County Championship over the next two months will land him a place in Australia's Ashes squad.

The experienced seamer is hoping to play in a sixth Ashes series against England later this year and his form with the red-ball at Essex is likely to serve as the best indicator to his chances.

Essex have eight four-day matches over the next nine weeks that Siddle will use to highlight his Ashes credentials and the 34-year-old knows a strong showing will have him in contention to earn a Test recall.

"It's about working hard, knowing at the back of my mind that I still want to play for Australia," Siddle told UK newspaper Braintree & Witham Times. 

"This will probably be my last year to play in an Ashes series, so that is going to be the goal. 

"I'm old enough now to know that all I've got to do is stay fit, stay on the park, and keep putting good performances on the board. 

"That's all I can control. 

"But, yeah, I'm confident (of winning Ashes selection). 

"Whether the selectors see it that way or not only time will tell. 

"But my experience of the first-class game in England is probably more than the rest of the group put together and that experience should mean I’m going to be a big candidate to be in that squad."

Siddle has played 64 Tests for his country, with the most recent of those coming in Abu Dhabi last year where he failed to pick up a wicket in Australia's 373-run loss to Pakistan.

He also featured in Australia's ODI series against India on home soil earlier this year, picking up two wickets from three matches against Virat Kohli's side.

But it is with the red-ball that Siddle shines most and the five-wicket haul he picked up while playing for Victoria in the JLT Sheffield Shield final in March only further strengthens this notion.

And Siddle will be hoping to continue that form with the red-ball when Essex re-commence their County Championship campaign against Nottinghamshire at Chelmsford on Tuesday.

"I love playing over here," Siddle added.

"l love the conditions and the environment; I love everything about it.

"It was a no-brainer when Essex offered me a two-year extension to my contract.

"Fingers crossed I’ll keep playing over here for a whole lot longer.

"This is only the start."

Qantas Ashes Tour of the UK 2019

Tour match: Australia v Australia A, Hampshire, July 23-26

First Test: August 1-5 at Edgbaston, Birmingham

Tour match: Australia v Worcestershire, August 7-9

Second Test: August 14-18 at Lord's, London

Third Test: August 22-26 at Headingley, Leeds

Tour match: Australia v Derbyshire, August 29-31

Fourth Test: September 4-8 at Old Trafford, Manchester

Fifth Test: September 12-16 at The Oval, London