Australia's ace spearhead Peter Siddle kick started an Ashes war of words by targeting England opener Nick Compton.
"I am going to stick it up to the Poms, that's all I are working on," said Siddle.
Siddle, whose in-your-face style has earned him the nickname of 'Sid Vicious', has earmarked the England opener for some special attention this summer.
In the past Glenn McGrath targeted players he wanted awake at night worrying, and now, Siddle has stepped up to the plate.
"If I can dismiss Compton early, we can crack open the heart of the English line-up early", the Mirror quoted Siddle as saying.
Compton's form was already a cause for concern for England, and he is not the only batsman looking to score at Headingley this week Jonny Bairstow and Ian Bell too are hoping to bring their A game to the Second Test against New Zealand.
If the Aussies view Compton as the softer target out of the two openers, they will be straining just as hard to get rid of captain Alastair Cook.
Array
The Kiwi's have already discovered that England's batting line-up is brittle in places.
Compton failed twice at Lord's - a ground he knows well - and will be keen to not only guarantee himself an Ashes spot, but also to zip-up Siddle qualms.
England are all set to name an unchanged side for the next match, but have added Tim Bresnan to the 11 training at Leeds, the Kiwis may recall former skipper Daniel Vettori in place of the injured Bruce Martin.
You’ve reached your limit of {{free_limit}} free articles this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
Already subscribed? Log in
Subscribe to read the full story →
Smart Quarterly
₹900
3 Months
₹300/Month
Smart Essential
₹2,700
1 Year
₹225/Month
Super Saver
₹3,900
2 Years
₹162/Month
Renews automatically, cancel anytime
Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans
Exclusive premium stories online
Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors


Complimentary Access to The New York Times
News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic
Business Standard Epaper
Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share


Curated Newsletters
Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox
Market Analysis & Investment Insights
In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor


Archives
Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997
Ad-free Reading
Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements


Seamless Access Across All Devices
Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app
