Siddle ready for Ashes taunts

Peter Siddle has not yet played an Ashes Test but he has a good idea of what will await him during his first tour of the country. "Siddle's a wanker" became a popular chant among the South African fans during this year's series and the young fast bowler isn't expecting England's supporters to be any friendlier.

"I like to charge in, bowl the odd bouncer and try and bowl fast," Siddle told AFP. "I did cop a little bit of grief when I was over in South Africa from the fans in a Merv Hughes-style so I think that's where that comes from. It's a good contest when the fans get into you and the batsmen go after you.

"It made it much more of a challenge which was always exciting and I enjoyed it a lot. It's something that happens in every country overseas. You always cop a bit of grief from the spectators and it's something you have to live with and become accustomed to. It's always going to be there and I suppose the way I bowl I'm probably going to cop a lot of it more often than not."

Siddle is already in England for the ICC World Twenty20 and following that tournament he is hoping to be in the starting line-up for the first Test in Cardiff. The return of Brett Lee and Stuart Clark means his position is not certain but he has a strong record of 29 wickets at 27.65 from his seven Tests.

Along with Mitchell Johnson, Ben Hilfenhaus and Andrew McDonald, Siddle was part of a relatively inexperienced attack that thrived in South Africa, where Australia won 2-1. He said the youth and vigour in the squad was a positive for Australia and England might be troubled by players they had rarely seen.

"There are a lot of blokes that haven't played a lot of Test cricket and it's a new beginning for us," Siddle said. "It worked over in South Africa when we had a number of new blokes there and they came straight in and performed well.

"The new blokes who have come into the squad here can come over and establish themselves as well and it's going to be a good series. There's always going to be a surprise factor with an inexperienced group and blokes that haven't been seen much."