ODI call-up sparks World Cup ambition in Peter Siddle

But now, having got a surprise call-up to the one-day international side to take on India and set to play his first game in the format since 2010, he sees a chance to tick off the one missing feat in a long career. His peak in form, after all, has come in the year of the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2019.

Siddle told cricket.com.au in a chat that he hadn't really thought about being in a World Cup since the last edition – and even then he only had an outside shot.

"And that was going to be my last opportunity, I would have thought. But now the position I'm in … the ball's in my court now to try and perform and take this opportunity that I've got," he said.

"If that means I get a shot at a World Cup, I'd love to. I've played in most things I could have through my career, and probably the one thing I haven't played in is a World Cup."

Siddle has broken into the ODI side on the back of good performances in the Big Bash League over the last couple of seasons. He admitted his return was unexpected, and it felt like "starting over".

"I had my 34th birthday a few weeks ago and to have not played for a number of years, it's amazing to potentially get that opportunity again," he said. "I know I'd worked hard and tried a lot of things to develop my white-ball game, but that was pretty much on the basis of trying to perform well for Adelaide [Strikers, his BBL team], not so much thinking the one-day chance would come.

"I'm just as amazed as a young bloke getting his first call-up, that's what it feels like. It feels like I'm starting all over again, so I'm very thankful."