Siddle cements place for Cardiff

Tim Nielsen, the Australia coach, has described fast bowler Peter Siddle as a "lock" to partner Mitchell Johnson in the first Ashes Test, beginning in Cardiff on July 8. Siddle was the pick of the Australian fast bowlers throughout the tour-opening practice match against Sussex, extracting life from the flat Hove pitch to finish with 3 for 68 from 30 overs.

Though not a selector, Nielsen's opinion carries much gravitas within Australian cricket and Siddle, barring injury, must now be considered a starter at Sophia Gardens. That will leave Stuart Clark, Brett Lee and Ben Hilfenhaus duelling for at least one, and possibly two, fast bowling slots for the first Test, making a virtual selection trial out of the practice match against England Lions in Worcester, beginning on Wednesday.

"I think Peter Siddle's a lock," Nielsen said. "He's bowling beautifully. All things being equal - his body being in good shape and him ready to go - he's one of our two outstanding bowlers at the moment in my opinion. He's doing a fine job every time he bowls and gets better.

"That's my opinion. I think he's got better and better every game since he debuted in India He presents himself so well and he bowled really aggressively from the (uphill) end. He's a young, hard, fit body who wants to bowl fast for Australia, and I'm really impressed with him.

If, as appears increasingly likely, Australia opt for four pacemen in Cardiff, Lee (4 for 104) and Clark (3 for 100) have made the early running over Ben Hilfenhaus (3 for 101), who conceded runs at more than six-per-over in the second innings at Hove. Both senior pacemen will be relieved to have successfully completed their first extended hit-outs since undergoing surgery late last year, and will look to work on their rhythm in Worcester.

"I suppose that's the hard part when you come back from injury and you're coming back into the squad and other players have been given an opportunity and taken it," Nielsen said. "That's great competition, and it means we have a squad that I think can go well in any conditions we're confronted with."