Former Australia fast bowler Brett Lee believes the national side’s current policy of rotating their pacemen could lead to problems within the group. After playing in the second Test, Peter Siddle and Ben Hilfenhaus were rested for the third and final match against South Africa and with James Pattinson injured, Australia went with a new seam attack of Mitchell Johnson, Mitchell Starc and John Hastings. Because of Pattinson’s side strain he picked up in the first innings, Siddle and Hilfenhaus bowled 67 overs between them in the second, with the former picking up four wickets. And Lee feels Siddle would have been disappointed to miss out on the final Test, despite it starting just four days after the second concluded. “If I was Sidds (Siddle), I would have been blowing up,” Lee said. “He bowled so well in Adelaide. “They say it’s because of back-to-back matches but that’s Test cricket. It’s nothing to do with the planning. “That’s what Test cricket is about; a test of character, a test of courage and backing up within a couple of days. “If you’re Peter Siddle and you see Mitchell Starc come in and take a five-for, it makes for an awkward situation.” The decision to omit Siddle was criticised by another former Australia bowler Dennis Lillee, who said he was far from convinced that the selectors made the correct call.
