Peter Siddle has called out former England paceman Steve Harmison for his attack on Australian batsman Steve Smith.
Harmison blasted Smith saying he’ll only ever be remembered as a “cheat” for his involvement in the sandpaper scandal in South Africa.
In his first series since the infamous saga in 2018, Smith has peeled off an astonishing 671 runs at an average of 134.20 including three centuries – helping Australia retain the Ashes on English soil for the first time in 18 years.
Siddle says Harmison is in no position to make such comments after it was later revealed England used mints to shine the ball during the iconic 2005 Ashes series.
“It’s more of a laugh than anything because we know some stories about what has gone on in the past,” Siddle told SEN SA Breakfast.
“A couple of his teammates from back then put out books since the 05 Ashes and talked about sugar-coating the cricket ball to get reverse swing in that series.
“That’s the irony in all that, that he actually used the word sugar-coat, when two of his teammates have talked about mints and different things to put on the ball. It actually comes back on him.
“We’ll have the last laugh about that, and I think Steve Smith has definitely put those to rest and he’s just done his talking with the bat.”
Australia will look to seal their first series win in England since 2001 when the fifth and final Ashes Test gets underway at The Oval on September 12.
Listen to Peter Siddle’s chat on SEN SA Breakfast in the player below