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Crocked Siddle refuses to blame workload
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Peter Siddle says players can be injured at any time, regardless of workload (file photo). (Getty Images: Robert Cianflone)
Australian paceman Peter Siddle says a strenuous workload was not responsible for the back injury which will sideline him for up to five months.
Siddle has succumbed to a thoracic back problem which had gradually worsened to the point where it had become too painful to bowl.
The 25-year-old plans to rest for a month and undergo three months of rehabilitation before attempting to test his arm.
Siddle said the issue was not a result of his strenuous workload and he said he planned to return fitter and stronger after his break.
"I had stress fractures when I was about 18 or 19 and at the time obviously it was difficult, but the recovery went well and in the end I was back and playing that following year," Siddle said on.
"It didn't hold me back at all and in the end it got a lot stronger, a lot fitter and worked out the best for me."
Siddle said players could expect injuries at any time, regardless of how much cricket they were required to play.
"Every time you go out on the field there's a chance you can get injured, whether you're a batter or a bowler," he said.
"I don't think it's just me, it could happen to anyone in any game.
"But it's definitely not the workload. Personally I hadn't played much cricket coming into the last two years so for me it was more cricket than I'd ever played before.
"But the schedule was no different to what it had been over the past five or six years so that's definitely not a part of it.
"I hadn't played a lot of cricket for Victoria and I got the (national) call-up and I have been busy but in that time I've had a lot of rests.
"I came back from South Africa and missed the one-dayers there and missed the one-dayers in Dubai to rest up and I came back from India early as well."
Siddle described his back issue as a gradually worsening problem.
"I had a little bit of pain and at the time we thought it was a strain but I could still bowl," he said.
"But it just got to the point where I was in a lot of pain and just couldn't keep on going."
Siddle said he was unsure about when he would make his return but it is likely he will be out of action until next summer's domestic season.
-AAP
