Oz pacer Siddle says he will be fit for first test against Windies

Melbourne, Nov.5 : Australian fast bowler Peter Siddle has declared he will be fit for the first Test against the West Indies, but admitted that the team's relentless program had taken its toll as he arrived home in Melbourne after more than five months on the road.

Siddle is one of five players who have returned from Australia''s tour of India with injuries or niggles, following the decision to send young allrounder Moises Henriques (hamstring) home before the fifth game in the series.

''''It''s very pleasing to be home, back to see family and friends and sleep in my own bed,'''' said Siddle upon arrival at Melbourne airport on Thursday morning.

He left home on May 27 and has been on tour ever since for the World Twenty20, the Ashes, a seven-game ODI series in England, the Champions Trophy, Victoria''s Champions League Twenty20 campaign and the seven-match series in India.

He said his side soreness was not serious, and is certain he will be fit for the first of six Tests during a busy Australian summer, starting with the series-opener against the West Indies at the ''Gabba from November 26.

"It''s nothing bad. I just pulled up a little bit tight, with a bit of soreness, from the last match and they decided the best thing with the first Test coming up was just to come home and rest up and make sure I am 100 per cent fit and ready to go for that,'''' Siddle said.

''''It has been a long tour, I guess, and the guys have been away for a long time now and we''ve probably played a bit too much cricket but we will see how we go and I am sure the boys will go well in the next three matches and come home with a [series] win," The Sydney Morning herald quoted Siddle, as saying.

Australia has 13 fit players to choose from for game five in Hyderabad, after levelling the series in Mohali.

--ANI