Kurtis Patterson’s commanding first Test ton yesterday has added further intrigue to Australia’s preparations for the Ashes, with a host of fringe batsman now pressing their cases to play in England.
A day after Joe Burns (180) and Travis Head (161) made the strongest of claims to be in Australia’s starting XI for the Ashes, rookie Patterson made himself a frontrunner for a middle order berth in that series.
The 25-year-old was overlooked for Australia’s initial squad to play the current two-Test series against Sri Lanka but forced the hand of the selectors by piling up 157* and 102* against the tourists in their warm-up match.
Patterson was solid in making 30 on debut and then made the most of a first-ball dropped catch by cruising to a silky 114* yesterday as Australia declared on 5-534 on day two of the second Test in Canberra.
Although Sri Lanka’s attack is understrength, Patterson has looked every inch a Test batsman in this series. In both Tests he has had to negotiate the second new ball early in his innings, and has done so with relative ease.
Patterson’s years of batting first drop for NSW in the Sheffield Shield mean he is experienced and assured against a new ball. In this series, batting out of position at six, he has also shown an ability to start against spin in a calm and calculated manner.
Standing 192cm tall, Patterson makes full use of his height against slow bowlers by reaching a long way down the pitch to smother the spin. When spinners then look to pull back their length Patterson is quick to exploit this by getting deep in his crease.
His method against spin is not overly dynamic or attractive but it is uncomplicated and looks sustainable. The way in which Patterson combats the tweakers reminds me of recently-retired England skipper Alastair Cook, another tall left hander who made the most of his height to successfully tame spinners.
The signs are good. The same could be said of Patterson’s assured play against pace. Again his height proves an advantage here because it means he need not get as big a stride towards the ball as shorter batsman, much like Cook or former Australian opener Matt Hayden, both of whom had relatively limited footwork.
Kurtis Patterson of Australia. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)
Patterson’s off driving was a highlight of his knock yesterday. The square drive which brought him within one stroke of his hundred was as perfectly timed as any shot I’ve seen this summer.
Patterson does not attempt to bludgeon the ball, instead placing great trust in his timing. This is evident even when playing the hook and pull shot, two strokes which batsmen tend to execute with great vigour. Not Patterson, he plays them with a graceful arc of the bat, again using his height to hit down on the ball.
Sri Lanka clearly thought they could target him with the short ball and it took a clutch of Patterson boundaries yesterday before they ditched that plan.
In the end they appeared unsure of just where to bowl to him. At the top of off stump is the answer, similar to most other batsmen in the world. But the Sri Lankan quicks are very green and also perhaps lack the skill to consistently hit the right areas.
England’s seamers will have no such problem. Should they make the cut – and I believe they deserve to – Patterson, Burns and Head will face far greater challenges in Australia’s next series in the UK. But, for now at least, Australia’s batting stocks are looking much healthier after a horror 12 months.
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Roar Rookie
And yet he averages 35 in tests compared with 29 for Wade
Battler
Roar Rookie
Paine has scored one ton total in FC cricket, and that was over ten years ago. His batting is shockingly overrated.
Paul
Roar Guru
I agree Chris, but the hundred makes his place for the Ashes all but assured, assuming he doesn't get injured or completely lose form over the back end of this season. If he'd scored the duck, questions would be asked about whether it would have been better to chose Puckovski. As it stands, I think Puckovski should tour, if he can get runs in the remaining Shield games, but Patterson looks very good at number 6.
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
It's also a good combination. While Richardson is only in because of Hazlewood's injury, I like this bowling lineup better, because Richardson, being shorter, with a very different trajectory, gives more variety in the bowling lineup compared to all three fast bowlers being pretty tall.
Simon G
Guest
I agree Terry, although it'll be interesting to see how Pucovski is able to manage his mental health problems over the next few years. It is great that he is able to be self aware when he is struggling and being able to remove himself from a situation (the Shield match, the current tour etc). But one has to wonder if he would have the confidence to remove himself from a Test Match if the same symptoms were to arise, and if he didn't, how would that affect his overall health. Until he gets his mental health right, I can't see how he can be picked. We can't afford to lose a player mid match for mental health reasons, and at the same time we can't expect him to keep playing if he is having problems.
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
Even if he'd got a first-baller there, to me he'd still be our #6 in the first Ashes test. Picking a player like Patterson at this point, shouldn't be dropped after 2 test innings.
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
I suspect it will be close. It will be a battle of two capable but highly flawed teams. Any match could go anywhere. Both teams need some of their lesser lights to stand up and have a good series. In a lot of ways it will come down to which ones can do that better. Although, a batting lineup like: Warner Burns Khawaja Smith Head Patterson Paine Cummins Starc Lyon Hazlewood/Richardson Looks a lot better than what we had starting this season!
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
Renshaw looks like he could potentially have a bright future, but he's still pretty young, give him a few years and see if he can find some consistency. Two years in a row he's spent the first half of the Shield season batting like a tail-ender. He really needs to work on that. His up is really good, but his down is really bad at the moment.
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
It's pretty simple, if you really want to push for a top-6 spot in the test team, you generally want to be batting in the top-5 at least, preferably the top-4. Wade has had a good season, but I'm amazed at how quickly sentiment on Wade has gone from "should never be allowed near the test team" to "what do the selectors have against him". He's had a good enough season to be in the conversation. Not necessarily enough to demand selection. Pattinson deserved the chance he got. And having picked him in these two tests, he needs to be given more time. Head isn't going anywhere, so the two batsmen dropped will have to come from Harris, Burns, Khawaja, Labuschagne.
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
Yeah, it's really Burns/Harris. Whether that one innings, combined with struggles over some of Harris method's of dismissal is enough to get Burns ahead of Harris in the pecking order, Warner is a definite to return and play. No other batsmen, in his absence, have come close to taking the chance to snatch his spot from him.
terrykidd
Roar Pro
I would suggest that Patterson's performance means he has locked Wade out of the 6 position and long term Patterson will be 3. Also Pucovski's potential and youth also lock Wade out of a test 12. Pucovski will be the reserve bat and long term 6 replacement. I reckon Wade's time has been and gone no matter what he does.
paddleman66
Roar Rookie
You're probably right but I think he will, he has just put up a good score in BBL and has a proven record in English conditions. Harris is falling away currently and I think he will struggle in swinging conditions.
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
This is the correct answer.
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
"I hope we can determine who is best able to handle the swinging ball." Fortunately Daniel the second half of the Shield season will be played with the swinging Dukes ball and all of Australia's current top 7 should be playing the last 4-5 Shield matches as they (apart from maybe Head) won't be playing white ball cricket for Australia.
Matt H
Roar Guru
Funny how two weeks ago Harris had the highest score for the summer from our top 6. After this series against Sri Lanka he now has the lowest score of the top 6.
13th Man
Roar Rookie
It's an interesting one and I think pitches like Edgbaston and Old Trafford will favour Jhye meanwhile flatter wickets such as Lords and the Oval maybe Starc would be the better choice due to his extra pace and x factor. They should both be in the squad and it will be an interesting selection.
Nudge
Roar Rookie
Why Warner slash Harris James? Warner is the second batsman picked without thought
Nick
Guest
Love reading the articles and comments. According to comments over the last couple of days Burns was lucky to get 180 after being dropped on 34, head should have been gone and therefore not made 160 but Patterson, who is the golden boy at the moment, makes a commanding century even though he was dropped on zero. Majority of players who make a century have had some luck along the way. Therefore they all made commanding centuries. Well done.
Matt H
Roar Guru
So last week Richardson picks up 5 wickets for the match in swinging and bouncy conditions against batsmen not equipped to handle it. The Roar is almost unanimous: Richardson to open the bowling in the Ashes after 1 test of evidence. 200 wickets bowler Starc must go. Fast forward a week. With little swing on offer and a better batting pitch Richardson goes wicketless and Starc hits 150km in taking 5 wickets in an innings. So what is the consensus now? It’s actually a real question, will we be more likely to face Richardson conditions or Starc conditions?
DaveJ
Roar Rookie
Renshaw will surely have to have a brilliant second half of the Shield season to be considered, wont he? He had some good County matches last year, but overall doesn’t have a more impressive record than Harris.