With Mitchell Johnson’s international career now over, the Australian selectors will begin their search for his long-term replacement in our pace bowling trio.
It is pleasing to see that they have made the right step by including James Pattinson in the 13-man squad for the upcoming Adelaide Test match.
While some may say Peter Siddle deserves a crack now, this couldn’t be any further from the truth. The Australian Test team is in a stage of development for the future and giving Pattinson the gig is the way forward.
After bursting onto the Test scene nearly four years ago Pattinson made an immediate impact with his skilful bowling and hostile nature towards batsmen.
Since then Pattinson’s career has been rudely crippled by countless injuries along the way, but to his credit he has continued to comeback harder, faster and stronger every time.
With the Australian team having lost a whole host of experience after the retirements of Michael Clarke, Ryan Harris, Brad Haddin, Chris Rogers, Shane Watson and now Johnson, the selectors must continue their building of youth for the future.
At 25 years Pattinson is ripe for another crack at the top level. He has shown that he has what it takes to match it with the best batsmen in the word in all formats of the game.
His ruthless aggression with the ball combined with his ability to bowl tightly and economically at the same time makes him a perfect replacement for Johnson.
Pattinson has made a strong start to this summer with some great bowling in the Matador Cup and he also out-bowled competitor Siddle in the recent round of the Sheffield Shield against Western Australia.
There is no doubting that if Siddle is picked to play in the day-night Test match that he will be a steady contributor, but surely he has now become more of an insurance policy for the selectors as 12th man.
Instead fellow Victorian quick should be given the chance to add to his 13 Test matches and 51 Test wickets.
The time for Pattinson is now! What do you think, Roarers?
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