Siddle back to face South Africa

SYDNEY — Veteran seamer Peter Siddle will return to bolster an Australian side keen to halt a losing streak in the first Test against South Africa starting Thursday. Captain Steve Smith confirmed Wednesday his XI for the home season opener at the WACA in Perth, with Siddle preferred to the uncapped Joe Mennie. Australia went down 3-0 in Sri Lanka in July-August to forfeit its top Test ranking, and then suffered a 5-0 thrashing in a one-day series in South Africa. Siddle, who has been recovering from a back injury sustained in New Zealand nearly nine months ago, will be the third seamer, replacing left-arm spinner Jon Holland. Batsman Usman Khawaja, dropped after a loss of form in Sri Lanka, replaces all-rounder Moises Henriques from the team that sank in the final Test in Sri Lanka. Smith praised the 31-year-old Siddle’s 61-Test experience after Australia opted against gambling on Mennie, a surprise inclusion in the squad. “They’re the kind of bowlers that can really tie up an end... who can hit consistent areas and build good pressure and keep runs down,” Smith told cricket Australia’s website. Siddle joins the pace attack spearheaded by Mitchell Starc, also recovering from a badly gashed leg, and Josh Hazlewood. South Africa was not due to announce their team until early Thursday. Squad: Australia: Steve Smith (captain), David Warner, Shaun Marsh, Usman Khawaja, Adam Voges, Mitchell Marsh, Peter Nevill, Mitchell Starc, Peter Siddle, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood and Joe Mennie (12th man). Taylor bats for 4-day Tests Former Australian captain Mark Taylor has pitched in to the debate on how to revive spectator interest in Test cricket, calling for the game’s longest format to be shortened by a day to encourage more attacking intent. Test matches have witnessed a steady decline in attendances in recent years, throwing the door open to a number of novel means to engage fans, including the introduction of day-night Tests. Taylor said making Tests four-day affairs instead of five would help them become more viewer friendly and envisaged a scenario where matches could begin Thursday and end Sunday — in a manner similar to golf tournaments. “It’ll only add to the appeal of the game, make it a bit shorter and a bit faster,” the former opening batsman told Melbourne’s Sports Entertainment Network (SEN) radio station. “You’ve got one less day to win, lose or draw a game, so it does force captains and players to be a little bit more aggressive in their thinking.” With Test matches coming in for stiff competition from the game’s newer, shorter formats, such as Twenty20 Internationals and leagues, Taylor added that holding day-night Tests was not the only option on the table. — Agencies