With a charging run-up, powerful delivery, worrying bounce and elongated appeal, Peter Siddle made a lasting mark in 2008-09 as he stepped up from promising domestic bowler to a speedster who could be part of Australia's attack for years. Picked for the tour of India, he made his debut in Mohali and hit Gautam Gambhir in the head with his first ball. There were four wickets in that game, but he wasn't called on again until South Africa arrived in Perth and he struggled to stress the batsmen in their record win. Undeterred by the setback, he fought back immediately on his MCG home ground with 4 for 81 and confirmed his status with 5 for 59 and an eight-wicket match haul the following week in Sydney.

When fit Siddle, a right-armer with genuine pace and the ability to swing the ball, was the most threatening fast man in the attack, picking up 33 wickets at 15.75 from five matches two seasons ago. He destroyed South Australia early in the campaign with 5 for 27 as they were skittled for 77, rattled the Redbacks again later in the summer with 6 for 57 and collected 5 for 61 in a win over Tasmania. The consistent successes led to a visit to India with Australia A and it was followed by his Test promotion. Siddle grew up in Morwell in rural Victoria and was already a promising competitive woodchopper when he eventually took up cricket at 14. He became a successful youth player whose honours included taking 11 for 47 in a state under-17 match, breaking the long-standing record of John Scholes, the late Victoria coach. He was bumped up from a rookie contract to a full Bushrangers deal in 2006-07 but his injury limited him to two Pura Cup games after his first-class career began the previous summer against the touring West Indians. He attended the Academy in 2004 and 2006, and was also offered a place in 2007.