Image courtesy of: The Telegraph

Siddle is excited to be “playing short-form cricket” again

Australia’s pace duo of James Pattinson and Peter Siddle have signed with the Melbourne Renegades for the next two seasons of the Big Bash League (BBL).

The franchise have also announced the re-signing of former Sri Lanka spinner Muttiah Muralitharan to a one-year contract and Australia leg-spinner Fawad Ahmed and batsman Alex Doolan to a two-year deal.

Both Pattinson and Siddle are expected to be representing Australia for the Ashes series in December and will only be available to play for the Renegades after the fifth and final Test ends on January 7.

The BBL, which was extended by a period of two weeks, will now run from December 20 to February 15.

“I want to get back into playing short-form cricket,”Siddle said. “To have that opportunity again in four over bursts, having a crack and getting the pace up there. I think it’ll be a lot of fun.”

Ahmed, who was born in Pakistan but granted Australian citizenship recently, has represented the Renegades in one game and is currently touring South Africa with the Australia A squad.

“I worked really hard with the Renegades last season,” Ahmed said. “It was a good six or seven weeks and they really helped me through BBL 2.

“I [then] got an opportunity with the (Victoria) Bushrangers and it really clicked. For me, I was nervous at one stage but it was a good summer.”