Siddle says Oz pace bowlers need rest to keep fresh for Ashes

Australian bowler Peter Siddle has defended the resting of fast bowlers before a busy Ashes schedule, saying that modern pace bowlers should be kept fresh given the demands on them.

Former Test greats have criticised the resting of Josh Hazlewood from the Sheffield Shield, continuing calls from past players for quicks to bowl more to avoid the injuries that have sidelined pacemen Pat Cummins, James Pattinson, Jackson Bird, Doug Bollinger and Mitchell Starc.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Siddle and fellow Ashes lynchpin Ryan Harris will be rested from this week's Shield games before next week's first Test in Brisbane, and he said that made sense as the players need a bit of break so as to get ready for a strenuous five-Test series.

Siddle also said it is disappointing that New South Wales (NSW) fast-bowling coach Geoff Lawson, one of the critics of the resting policy, did not understand why such rests are necessary, adding that the number of games now has quite increased from the amount it was during Lawson's playing days.

Further slamming Lawson, Siddle said that Lawson also had a long run of injuries throughout his career, adding that it is said that Lawson's career lasted a decade, which has been played out by Mitchell Johnson in three-and-a-half years.