Siddle in line to make Notts debut against Middlesex
Published:Nottinghamshire made the best possible start to the new County Championship season with a 45-run win over Lancashire and they are set to be boosted further with the arrival of Australian seamer Peter Siddle.
The Ashes winner was set to make his debut for the Outlaws in their opening match against Lancashire but visa issues delayed his arrival into the UK.
But that did not stop Notts producing a match winning performance to go second in the table behind Sussex, who thrashed Middlesex in their opening game.
Siddle’s new team are now the 7/2 favourites to win County Championship Division 1 and with the Aussie, who took 16 wickets in Australia’s 5-0 Ashes victory, in their ranks it’s hard to look past a repeat of their 2010 title winning campaign.
The 29-year-old has taken 188 Test wickets at 29.37 and will harbour those skills in the County Championship for the first time against a Middlesex side looking to bounce back.
Angus Fraser’s side were tipped up by many as one of the favourites for the title this season but they were blown away on the south coast by a rampant Sussex side.
The only positive in an innings and 127-run defeat was the return to form of fast-bowler Steven Finn, who took seven wickets in the match as he bids to reclaim a place in the England side.
Eoin Morgan, another player looking to stake a claim for an England re-call, scored just two runs in as many innings at Hove and will be looking to get back into form at Lords.
Middlesex have been pushed out to 12/1 with Ladbrokes to win the title but they will need to put in a performance against a Notts side, who are 4/5 for victory at Lords.
The Panthers are on at odds of evens for victory but they will have to find a way to stop Siddle impressing in his first match on these shores in county cricket.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
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