Australia stronger for Ashes loss: Siddle

Side looking to pace trio for triumph against England in upcoming series.

BRISBANE: Australia have a better strategy to defeat England in the Ashes this time round after learning hard lessons from their defeat earlier this year, paceman Peter Siddle said on Monday.

Michael Clarke will be looking to reverse his team’s fortunes in the first Test starting at the Gabba on Thursday after their 3-0 defeat on English soil, and Siddle said the pace trio of the recalled Mitchell Johnson, Ryan Harris and himself were ‘ready to go’.

“Our plans have got a lot stronger,” said Siddle.

“We know what to do differently. We know how to approach it and we’ll attack it hard.

“We know there’s a few players we need to work on and no doubt we’ll have them covered starting on Thursday.”

Johnson is set for his first Test since Australia’s loss to India in March, while Harris will be hoping to build on his success in the last Ashes series in which he was Australia’s best bowler, taking 24 wickets in four Tests.

“I think his experience is going to be great throughout this series,” Siddle said of Johnson.

“I just think his knowledge of the game, his skill — he’s taken over 200 Test wickets, that’s quite impressive — so to have Mitch back around the unit and obviously Ryan Harris, the way he bowled over in England was outstanding, so I think we have a nice strong attack ready to go.”

Australia are hoping to reclaim the Ashes in the five-Test series after three successive losses.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 19^th, 2013.

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