Fast bowler Peter Siddle has declared his preparation for the Australian Test summer on track despite being snubbed by his state for their domestic one-day campaign so far.
For the third match in a row, Siddle was left out of the Victorian line up for the one-day cup and they won the fixture against Western Australia at Blacktown on Monday without him.
Scott Boland has been preferred by coach David Saker this series; a setback which threatens Siddle's ambitions for selection in Australia's three-Test series against New Zealand which begins next month.
Battling James Pattinson for the final spot in the Australian pace arsenal, Siddle has not been allowed to stake his claim and has not played a state match in the time since the last Ashes Test in August.
Siddle was on Monday named in a 20-man squad to take part in a red-ball camp in Sydney on Tuesday and Wednesday.
However, time is running out for Siddle to get game time under his belt ahead of the Gabba Test, which begins on November 5.
The Victorians have two one-day cup matches remaining, against South Australia and NSW, with the possibility of more should they make the finals.
They also have just one Sheffield Shield match, against Queensland starting on October 28, before the Test team is named.
Crucially, that game will be a day-night fixture which is scheduled to feature pink cricket balls, not red.
However, he said he was backing his ability to slot straight back into the Test arena and perform, pointing to his six-wicket haul against England at The Oval in what was his only 2015 Ashes appearance.
"The last Test probably speaks for itself," Siddle said.
"Bowl well and take wickets. It's about bowling well. That's what I've shown.
"When they dropped me last year and I went back (to Sheffield Shield), I took wickets, low economy and built pressure and we had the results.
"That's what I try to do. That's what I bring to the team. It worked for us for Victoria last year and it has worked for Australia for a long time."
Siddle said he was a frustrated onlooker during Victoria's opening matches of the domestic one-day tournament but understood Saker overlooking him for Boland.
"It's always hard when you haven't played one-day cricket in a long time and you're preparing for red-ball and you have to get back," Siddle said.
"That has probably been the hardest thing I guess. A lot of the boys who have come back in were playing in the one-day series over in England and have been able to slot straight in. It's a bit harder for me."
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