Peter Siddle is hopeful of getting 'one last crack at home'

"It always was a dream of mine to play in a Boxing Day Test when I was younger being a Victorian," said Siddle after he was called up to Australia's 13-man squad on Tuesday, 17 December. "Whenever I get the opportunity to play at the G, I've wanted to perform and do well.

"And yeah it's definitely going to be my last chance getting a crack at it. Fingers crossed but like I said, wait and see. Bowl well and see what happens. I've never been one to worry too much about the selection part of things. Make sure I'm ready and that stuff will either happen or not."

The 35-year-old last made a Test appearance during this year's Ashes series in England, in which he featured in three Tests taking only seven wickets at an average of 42.14. He also struggled with a hip injury for most of the Oval Test. With Hazlewood out of the Boxing Day Test against New Zealand with a hamstring strain, another door of opportunity has opened for Siddle.

"I'm not worried about proving people wrong. At the end of the day, I'm just trying to stay fit and stay ready. I just want to play cricket. I love playing it," Siddle said. "If I probably didn't enjoy playing, I would have retired two years ago when I had that last big injury.

"Obviously didn't finish well in the Ashes, the injury and all that but yeah one last crack at home. We'll see how it goes,. It's exciting isn't it, doesn't matter how old you are. To get the phone-call and be back around the group. It's exciting times," he added.

Australia lead the three-Test series 1-0, with the second Test starting on 26 December in Melbourne.