'Vegan' Siddle backs 'coconut water and banana' diet for success in winter Ashes

Australian pace bowler Peter Siddle, who is a vegetarian, is reportedly sticking to a staple diet of bananas and coconut water to prepare of the winter Ashes series in Australia, starting from November.

Siddle, the only Australian bowler to play every Ashes Test on the recent tour, had prompted concerns that his limited diet was impacting on his stamina as he claimed just one wicket in the last two Ashes Tests in England.

However, News.com.au reports that Siddle rejected the concerns, saying that a heavy workload from an Australia A series, and not his diet, had an impact on his performance, adding that unlike the stereotypical 'steak and eggs' diet of fast bowlers, he adopted a 'coconut milk and banana' diet on the insistence of his animal rights activist partner.

Stating that his body is fit as ever, Siddle further said that although he got tired at times, he still managed to push through five of six Tests last winter, which is a learning experience for him, adding that to be able to get through an entire Ashes series is no mean feat.