Siddle and Lyon proving great foils for pace pair The less-heralded half of Australia's Ashes attack, Peter Siddle and Nathan Lyon, are making positive contributions to the team well beyond the wicket tally. One of the key reasons Australia has achieved a 2-0 series lead is that there has been no respite for England's batsmen beyond new-ball duo Mitch Johnson and Ryan Harris, who have taken 25 wickets. While all of Australia's specialist bowlers are conceding fewer than three runs an over, none of England's have managed the feat. The workhorse of the visitors' attack, Graeme Swann, has fared worst of all, conceding 4.05 runs an over. Suppprting act: Peter Siddle celebrates after dismissing Matt Prior of England on the final day of the second Test. Siddle got scant reward for his tight bowling at the start of the series, but that was partly remedied by four second-innings scalps in Adelaide, giving him seven wickets at 20. Even more important for captain Michael Clarke, however, has been Siddle's ability to lock down an end while a teammate attacks from the other. Across the 14 spells in the two Tests the right-armer has conceded more than two runs an over in only two of them, plus the 10-ball spell in which he took the last wicket on day two at the Gabba. He is also fit enough to bowl the longer spells from which Clarke tries to shield strike bowlers Johnson and Harris. The 29-year-old Siddle usually bowls spells of about five overs, and in Brisbane bowled an eight-over spell in which he conceded just 11 runs as England made a solid start. A major beneficiary of Siddle's miserly bowling, fellow seamer Johnson, insisted the Victorian's value was not underestimated by his teammates, because he was fulfilling his designated role. "If you're looking at the wicket column he's probably been a bit quieter but I don't believe he's been a quiet achiever," Johnson said on Wednesday. The bowling unit we've got we all complement each other and I think he's done an exceptional job bowling that line and length and [he] was bowling short balls towards the end of that Test ... in Adelaide as well, which is what we want him to do. The calls for off-spinner Lyon to retain his spot for the third Test, despite his modest series record and the pace-friendly WACA Ground, are supported by his knack of being involved in bowling partnerships that claim a wicket. Lyon has bowled just under a quarter of Australia's 304 overs for the series. He has, however, been bowling at the other end when 17 wickets - 44 per cent overall - have fallen during the series. Australia's 12th man in the two Tests, bowling all-rounder James Faulkner, would be the prime candidate for inclusion if Lyon's off-spin is considered unnecessary. In the six Tests Australia has played in Perth it has selected a spinner in only three. Jason Krejza was flayed for 1-204 by South Africa five years ago, Nathan Hauritz had match figures of 4-127 against the West Indies the year after and Lyon himself played last against South Africa. Lyon started well against the Proteas, taking 3-41 in the first innings, but was pummelled along with the rest of the specialist bowlers in the second with 0-128 from 22 overs. However, Lyon's more recent record against England, taking 15 wickets since his recall midway through the winter series, is expected to be appreciated by selectors. Total votes: 9367.