Wednesday 13 May 2015 10:43, UK
Kevin Pietersen's Ashes snub has been welcomed by England's Australian rivals.
England's leading international run-scorer has been told by the ECB's new director of cricket Andrew Strauss he will not be considered for selection against New Zealand or Australia this summer, despite a career-best triple-century for Surrey.
And two of the Aussies' likely bowling attack say they can barely believe their luck, with Peter Siddle comparing 'unique' Pietersen's omission to Australia leaving out Shane Warne.
"A bloke that averages 50 in Test cricket, I’m happy to have him out of the side and get someone else in who averages less," Lancashire pace bowler Siddle told the Manchester Evening News. "I’m quite happy to have him out of the side.
"There has never really been a player like him before, it is like to find someone to replace Shane Warne. You can have the second best spinner in the world, and you still won’t come close.
"There has never really been a player like him before, it is like to find someone to replace Shane Warne. You can have the second best spinner in the world, and you still won’t come close."
"The confidence and aggression they have, you can never replace them. They don’t grow on trees these types of players. You have to be patient with what you have around you, and have some faith, that’s what we have shown and it works."
Siddle's fellow seamer Ryan Harris, meanwhile, is convinced Pietersen can yet return from exile to play some part when the Ashes series begins in July.
"I know that Strauss and him probably don't get on, but I'm not going to believe it until we get over there and they pick their squad," he said.
"He's just peeled off a triple-hundred. If he keeps going on and playing for Surrey, he may quit now, but if he keeps going and scoring hundred after hundred there's going to be a lot of pressure to pick him.
"Although it has been said by the new cricket director, I'm not going to believe it until we play five Tests and Kevin Pietersen doesn't play. If he keeps scoring runs the way he is it's going to be very hard not to pick him."
Pietersen says he is devastated by the latest snub and confused by Strauss' offer of an advisory role with the one-day team - an offer he refused.
And the South Africa-born batsman joked on Wednesday he might go for the role of head coach free since Peter Moores was sacked earlier this month.
He tweeted: "Morning all, after a pretty bad day yesterday I've given it a lot of thought overnight. I'm applying for the
coaching job! #StraussLogic"
