Get over it, Siddle tells sore losing Poms

MELBOURNE - Australian pace bowler Peter Siddle has branded England sore losers, saying they were only complaining about sledging from the home side because they had lost the Perth Test.

Siddle also challenged England fast bowler James Anderson to prove his toughness by carrying a side-strain injury into the fourth Ashes Test starting on Sunday at the MCG.

England batsman Matt Prior was furious during last week’s third Test when Siddle gave him a verbal send-off after bowling him.

Prior said Siddle’s comments had annoyed him and weren’t necessary.

However, Siddle said Prior had indeed asked him out the back for a fight and before he could respond, several of his teammates had put up their hands.

“Yeah I think he did (suggest having a fight) in the end,” Siddle told a Cricket Victoria luncheon on Wednesday.

Asked if he would have handled himself okay, the strongly built former junior woodchopper grinned: “I’d back myself in.”

Siddle said sledging was part of the game and last week’s third Test was no worse than any other Ashes contest.

Speaking later at a press conference, Siddle added: “We won the game. That’s why they’re making such a big deal of it.” (ANI)