Back problem sidelines Siddle for five months

Melbourne, Feb.9 (ANI): Australian fast bowler Peter Siddle will not play for at least five months, as he is out with a back injury.

The Sydney Morning Herald quoted the 25-year-old, as saying he had suffered a thoracic back problem, which had gradually worsened to the point where it had become too painful to bowl.

He plans to rest for a month and undergo three months of rehabilitation before bowling again.

"I had stress fractures when I was about 18 or 19, and at the time, obviously, it was difficult but the recovery went well and in the end I was back and playing that following year," Siddle said on Tuesday.

"It didn't hold me back at all and in the end it got a lot stronger, a lot fitter and worked out the best for me."

Siddle said players could expect injuries at any time, regardless of how much cricket they were required to play.

"Every time you go out on the field there's a chance you can get injured, whether you're a batter or a bowler," he said.

The injury will definitely sideline Siddle for the upcoming tour of New Zealand and the Twenty20 world championship in the West Indies. (ANI)