AUS v SA: Siddle out of second Test due to back injury

Australia paceman Peter Siddle has been ruled out of the second Test against South Africa due to a back injury. Siddle, who took match figures of 3-98 in the loss in Perth, will miss the clash in Hobart starting Saturday.

"Peter Siddle had some lower back soreness at the conclusion of the first Test match in Perth," Australia team physio David Beakley said.

Australia paceman Peter Siddle has been ruled out of the second Test against South Africa due to a back injury.

Siddle, who took match figures of 3-98 in the loss in Perth, will miss the clash in Hobart starting Saturday.

Jackson Bird has been called up on stand-by as cover, with Joe Mennie likely to make his Test debut.

"Peter Siddle had some lower back soreness at the conclusion of the first Test match in Perth," Australia team physio David Beakley said.

"Whilst we expect bowlers to be sore after Test matches, this was slightly worse than we expected and given that he was returning from a significant back injury, we organised some scans today.

"The scans demonstrated some low grade bone oedema around his old stress fracture that is likely to be a flare up of his previous lower back injury.

"We are hopeful that this will resolve relatively quickly, but have withdrawn him from the squad for the second Test match in Hobart. We will monitor his recovery and have a better idea of when he will return to play in the next week or so."

Australia suffered a 177-run loss in the first Test in Perth and had already made changes to the squad.

Joe Burns and Callum Ferguson were called up with Shaun Marsh (finger) ruled out.