Siddle's pace in nets eye opening: Shipperd

Melbourne, Aug 26 : Victoria’s coach Greg Shipperd has said that Peter Siddle’s “pace in the nets has been eye-opening”.

Siddle is the star attraction at a three-day Twenty20 tournament in Darwin that will determine if he will be able to spearhead Victoria’s pace attack at Champions League in South Africa.

Siddle was struck down by stress fractures in his back in January but has undergone an intense fitness program, The Age reports.

With Victoria having a formidable pace attack consisting of Siddle, Dirk Nannes, Shane Harwood, Clint McKay, John Hastings and James Pattinson, Shipperd said form in the warm-up matches would be noted when it came to selecting the team for South Africa.

“There’s vibrant competition … [for] probably three bowling slots that exist. Six into three won’t go and all have very legitimate claims to play,” he said.