Siddle won't blame workload

Peter Siddle insists that his workload is not to blame for the back injury that has sidelined him for around five months.

Paceman insists schedule was not reason for back injury

Australia paceman Peter Siddle insists that his workload is not to blame for the back injury that has sidelined him for around five months. The 25-year-old was diagnosed with a stress fracture in his back last week and will now miss this month's tour of New Zealand, the World Twenty20 in the West Indies in April and May and possibly the subsequent tour of England where Australia will play two Tests against Pakistan. Siddle has become the latest in a long line of Australian quickies to fall foul of a long-term injury with Brett Lee (elbow), Stuart Clark (back) and Ben Hilfenhaus (knee tendonitis) also out indefinitely. However, he does not believe his ailment is as a result of being worked too hard, stating: "It's definitely not the workload.

"I hadn't played a lot of cricket for Victoria and I got the call-up and it's been busy but in that time I have had a lot of rest. "I came back from South Africa and missed the one-dayers there and missed the one-dayers in Dubai to rest up. "I came back from India early as well to rest up in that time so I've had plenty of time to rest up and if it's going to happen it's going to happen."

Sights set on Ashes return

Siddle has already set his sights on returning to competitive action by the middle of 2010 and then hopes to have worked his way back to peak form and fitness in time for the Ashes series in November. "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," he explained. "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." However, he admits his current complaint came as a real blow, adding: "It is disappointing. Any injury, no matter what it is whether it's a week or two weeks or a couple of months, it's always frustrating not to go out there and play for your country. "At the same time it will obviously give me a bit of time to rest, catch up with friends and family and just do some normal things, but get the body right, a lot stronger, fitter and hopefully a new and improved body when I come back." Siddle has played a total of 17 Tests since making his debut against India in Mohali in 2008 and has taken 60 wickets at an average of a shade over 30.