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Australia’s performance in this Test series against India has been excellent in patches, with new skipper Steve Smith providing the most highlights due to his outstanding batting.
Ryan Harris, with that creaking body and his standard line of ‘the body is pretty sore’ as part of engaging interviews – I was fortunate enough to be involved in two of them for ABC Grandstand during the Boxing Day Test – was again very impressive.
Nathan Lyon, Chris Rogers, Dave Warner, Mitch Johnson and Shaun Marsh, despite the latter getting nervous on 99 and running himself out, have also shown their mettle in what has been a trying time for all of our elite cricketers in the wake of the tragic death of Phil Hughes.
However, the biggest plus so far in Australia’s summer of cricket, with the World Cup just six weeks away, has been the return of James Pattinson from injury.
Okay, I will try and not get too excited about the young fast bowler producing four superb overs for the Melbourne Renegades in the Big Bash as part of yet another return from injury, but he bowled well. He clean bowled three good players in Mike Hussey, Jacques Kallis and Andrew McDonald to set up a big win for the Renegades.
It’s just what Australian cricket needs to ensure our fast bowling stocks remain strong and contain enormous depth.
Patrick Cummins continues to get overs into his shoulders and miles into his legs, and as Josh Hazlewood embarks on his Test career there’s a fast bowling attack that has the potential in years to come to dominate opposition batting line-ups.
Pattinson has already shown at Test level that he has what it takes to perform well at the highest level, but the body can’t stay sound. I am sure he is learning from Harris to play through the pain, which Harris has become very good at.
Former fast bowlers lament the tactics of Cricket Australia with their controversial resting policy over the years. These wonderful servants of the game have always said that the body gets used to the work load and how to play through the pain by constantly bowling.
There are very serious injuries like knee reconstructions or stress fractures of the back, which require rest and rehabilitation, but there is the general wear and tear that can be managed.
If Pattinson can stay fit and bowl like that for the rest of the Big Bash tournament then the Renegades will give the title a shake after a slow start. But fast forward down the track and think about a Boxing Day Ashes Test at the MCG, with more than 90,000 watching the first two overs of play, Pattinson at one end and Cummins charging in at the other.
I think we would all like to see that!
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