Resting Siddle awaits his Test fate

Australia's attack for the Gabba Test is not set in stone, but they are taking no chances with any of their fast bowlers in the lead-up to the match. Peter Siddle, Ben Hilfenhaus and Ryan Harris will all be rested this week, with Mitchell Johnson and Doug Bollinger the only members of the pace attack who will take part in the round of Sheffield Shield games starting on Wednesday.

The first Ashes Test begins in Brisbane in nine days and on a pitch expected to offer some seam movement, Australia's fast men are vital to ensuring the hosts begin the series on a high. The most likely attack is Johnson, Hilfenhaus and Bollinger, with Shane Watson as backup and Nathan Hauritz bowling spin, but the selectors are taking a cautious approach with the entire group.

Siddle has not played a Test since January, after stress fractures in his back ruled him out of the Test tours to New Zealand, England and India. He has now been back in action for Victoria for two months and has 13 Shield wickets at 23.38, but won't have the chance to impress the selectors further in the four-day game against Western Australia at the MCG.

"The plan has all been worked around with Cricket Australia, with the selectors, with coaching staff, physios, everyone involved," Siddle said of resting this week. "That's the plan we were always going to take. I've ended up playing an extra Shield game than I was going to, anyway. I've played three now and I'm feeling comfortable with my game."

Siddle, who turns 26 on the first day of the Gabba Test, had become an established member of Australia's attack over the past couple of years, but now faces a tough battle to regain his position. While he was out injured, Johnson took 23 wickets at 32.82, Bollinger 22 at 23.40 and Hilfenhaus 14 at 32.21, and Harris also made a promising start to his Test career with nine wickets in two games in New Zealand.

"I've obviously been out of the game for ten months, not playing," Siddle said. "Those blokes who have come in have performed well and done very well for Australia. It is going to be hard. I've done everything I can, and everything that has been asked of me. It's just a matter of getting up there and being a part of the team if I get the opportunity."

If Siddle doesn't make the cut for the first Test, there is every chance he will play at some point during the series. The selectors have shown a lot of faith in Johnson but their patience might run out if he begins the summer with a couple of lacklustre Tests, and he knows that improving his consistency is a must against England.

"With a big series coming up, and the squad that they've picked, you're always fighting for your spot," Johnson said. "But I'm pretty confident with the way I'm going at the moment. I'm feeling pretty good with myself and I'm looking forward to a big series."

Johnson expects an aggressive approach from England's batsmen, who will be keen to get under his skin after he struggled during the previous Ashes series last year. His nadir came at Lord's, where he struggled to have any impact and finished with match figures of 3 for 200, as England took a 1-0 series lead.

"I'm sure they're going to try and target me, being the most experienced of the guys and obviously after what happened last time," Johnson said. "I look at Lord's more than anything else, if you look at the rest of the series I ended up finishing second leading wicket taker. I guess they'll do their best to try and take me off my game, but we're in our home country now and I'm looking forward to bowling on our wickets."

Johnson is one man for whom resting is a hindrance, not a help, so he will bowl for Western Australia at the MCG this week. Bollinger will also play, in a New South Wales side missing Stuart Clark (hamstring) against Tasmania in Sydney, as he aims to prove his fitness in his first-class comeback following a month-long injury lay-off due to an abdominal problem.

But the selectors want Hilfenhaus to be as fresh as possible for the Gabba Test, so he will put up his feet while his Tasmanian team-mates play. The Australians are also taking no chances with Harris, who suffered a swollen knee after taking nine wickets for Queensland last week. He won't take part in the Shield match against South Australia in Brisbane, or the Australia A game against England in Hobart, which also starts on Wednesday.

Victoria squad Rob Quiney, Michael Hill, Aaron Finch, David Hussey (capt), Andrew McDonald, Ryan Carters, Matthew Wade (wk), Will Sheridan, John Hastings, Damien Wright, Jon Holland, Darren Pattinson.

Western Australia squad Wes Robinson, Michael Swart, Michael Hussey, Marcus North (capt), Adam Voges, Mitchell Marsh, Luke Ronchi (wk), Mitchell Johnson, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Brett Dorey, Michael Beer, Michael Hogan.

New South Wales squad Simon Katich (capt), Shane Watson, Phil Jaques, Ben Rohrer, Peter Forrest, Brad Haddin (wk), Moises Henriques, Sean Abbott, Nathan Hauritz, Scott Coyte, Trent Copeland, Doug Bollinger.

Tasmania squad Jon Wells, Mark Cosgrove, Ricky Ponting, George Bailey (capt), Alex Doolan, Travis Birt, Luke Butterworth, Brady Jones (wk), James Faulkner, Jason Krejza, Xavier Doherty, Brendan Drew, Adam Maher.

Queensland squad Ryan Broad, Wade Townsend, Lee Carseldine, Chris Lynn, Ben Dunk, James Hopes (capt), Chris Hartley (wk), Chris Swan, Cameron Gannon, Scott Walter, Cameron Boyce, Luke Feldman.

South Australia squad James Smith, Daniel Harris, Michael Klinger (capt), Aiden Blizzard, Tom Cooper, Graham Manou (wk), Daniel Christian, Aaron O'Brien, Tim Lang, Ben Edmondson, Rob Cassell, Gary Putland.