Another day, another top performance from James Pattinson with the new ball.
It might be a Sheffield Shield season like no other as we stretch into March and eventually April, but Pattinson – a man who has struggled with injuries – is finally getting to his best.
Constant cricket, lots of overs, his body is holding up and the accuracy and consistency he is bowling with is taking him straight to the top of the pile.
He was close enough to landing a Test or two in the summer just gone in the losing effort against India, and may well have without a niggle or two. But come next summer, the wickets he is taking right now as he rips through the Sheffield Shield with consistency and accuracy is putting runs on the board, so to speak.
Watching him live at Bankstown Oval last week showed the real pace he is bowling with, and all the accuracy and consistency. The way he was able to set batsmen up across the course of a spell and make things happen was outstanding, and it was no different yesterday as the Victorians started their latest match against Tasmania.
Scott Boland might take a fair chunk of the credit for his four wickets, but there was next to no chance of the Tigers being rolled for 188 without the help of Pattinson, who took two wickets and bowled economically, locking down an end every time he came on and building pressure.
Of course, the men from the Apple Isle were shaken up in their preparation, losing one late before Alex Doolan was flown in to join the game well after it started, but the form of Pattinson is speaking for itself.
(Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
Since the resumption of the Shield a handful of weeks ago, the fiery quick has taken 10-157, averaging under 16, and in all but one innings, he has bowled with excellent economy, allowing others around him to go right onto the attack and take wickets thanks to his pressure build-up.
The art of bowling in partnerships is undoubtedly one of the more important ones in cricket, and yet doesn’t get the air time. The way he has done that with Scott Boland up front and others throughout the innings suggests Pattinson is ready to have another prolonged shot in the Aussie Test team.
And after the summer just gone, his Sheffield Shield form is going to leave him at the top of the list, snapping at the heels of Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood for one of the three quick bowling spots next summer.
A five-Test series against the English will certainly leave time and opportunities for changes throughout, and so even if it isn’t in the first Test, Pattinson is likely to receive an opportunity in the side at some point.
But provided he stays fit and finishes this season strongly, as well as starts next summer at the top of his game, there is no reason that opportunity shouldn’t come in the series opener against the old enemy.
While he may drop a little bit in the raw pace department to Starc, he makes up for it in the accuracy and consistency, as well as the ability to turn the tide of a match in a hurry.
It’s that skill Starc possesses, but one he hasn’t been able to put into practice in recent times.
(Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
And while, granted, Sheffield Shield cricket isn’t Test cricket against one of the strongest teams in the world, it is all we have to go on right now, and Pattinson – who has played a total of just 21 Tests in a decade – deserves to be at the top of the pecking order.
In those 21 Tests, Pattinson has proven he can handle the top level, picking up 81 wickets at a very handy 26.33, while only going at three runs per over.
The Aussies aren’t flush in the fast-bowling stocks right now, and rotation will be required next summer to manage work loads across a demanding summer.
But Pattinson, who is bowling longer spells and doing the job for the Victorians, won’t look out of place in what could well be a four or five-man rotation, with Michael Neser seemingly the other one on the radar right now.
Pattinson may have had a staggered, disjointed Test career due to injury, but he may finally be destined to get a long-term opportunity next summer.
Only time will tell, but Pattinson’s wealth of wickets and consistent bowling will have the incumbents throwing more than just the occasional glance over the shoulder.
DDragon
Roar Rookie
Long , Long way behind Jhye Richardson and Tasmania pair . IMO
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
There are bowlers who have gone past Pattinson now. Younger and more prolific: Steketee(Qld), Conway(NSW), no one from Victoria, Meredith, (Tas), Agar(SA), Richardson (WA) are all as penetrating and none of them are are as nasty to umpires and as unsportsmanlike to opposition as Pattinson. Thanks but no thanks.
JamesH
Roar Guru
I agree, but it's the injuries that have had me doubting. Hopefully he proves me wrong.
Mario Lia
Guest
Pattinson has always been a class test bowler if it was not for Injuries he would have over 200 test wickets like starc and hazelwood have. Remember he was first picked in the test side before starc and hazelwood at the start of their careers. Hopefully Pattinson can stay injury free and still be around for few more years to play test cricket. He has never played a pink ball test, I think he would do very well there as well.
Prez
Roar Rookie
most of those recent runs by Head were scored away from AO.
JamesH
Roar Guru
He's definitely timed his resurgence well, given the questions selectors must surely be asking about Starc this summer. I've questioned whether Pattinson can again be the force he once was at international level, but I'll be happy if I end up with egg on my face for that one.
Peter Farrar
Roar Pro
I totally agree and welcome the day when a fully fit Pattinson takes his place in the team. If memory serves me correctly (it doesn't always), Pattinson was unable to play in the Australia A team against India. That would have been fascinating to see where he was at. Perhaps there may be a tour match for him to show his ability against England while the tourists prepare for the first test. Hopefully he can then make an impression the selectors cannot ignore.
Peter Anderson
Guest
Gee boys, Starcs old man was diagnosed with fatal cancer at the start of the summer. Probably had an impact don't you think? He's in my first test team, mostly cos that's what the poms fear. Patto and Patrick, to me, are too similar. Not sure with Hazlewood that's enough balance. And I'm sure no one's suggesting dropping Pat or Josh?
Adelaide Oval is a road, only reason Carey/Head have made any runs. Dont read too much into it
Kim Hughes 1980
Roar Rookie
Yeah Patto seems a better option than Starc. Hopefully Green bowls a bit more to - so Patto can bowl shorter, quicker spells at the Poms
JGK
Roar Guru
His non-Test first class average is now 67.
U
Roar Rookie
More than half of Mitch Marsh’s amount of first class hundreds at age 21!
badmanners
Roar Rookie
Nah, The Blob but he's in the Artic not the Antarctic. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Blob
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Roar Rookie
Agree. The selectors decision to persist with the three fast bowlers in the Indian series came back to bite them badly in the end. Starc in particular lost the ability to swing the ball - and without that his wicket taking options are very limited. Change was needed by the time we hit the Gabba but the selectors weren't prepared to take a risk. Much of the blame for the series defeat was targeted at the tactics of captain Tim Paine but the ineffectiveness of Starc and Lyon was more telling. Starc's 11 wickets @ 40.7 and Lyon's record of 9 wickets @ 55 are appalling when ranked alongside Cummins 17 wickets @ 19.4 and Hazlewood's 21 @ 20. If Pattinson was fit and available he should have played at the Gabba instead of Starc. And if Australia's spinning stocks were stronger Lyon shouldn't have played either despite him apparently being the GOAT. Lyon's shocking ineffectual performances during the series have been overlooked while others in the team have copped most of the flak for the series loss.
Pierro
Roar Rookie
Head and carey scoring big they just need to keep doing it in shield and then the wade paine swap is obvious
Pierro
Roar Rookie
I don't trust our Selectors sadly Jeff . These innings by head , green and carey (against nsw) are very telling . These three should play against England the way they are going with wade and paine to be replaced . Head probably deserves one more go but he's on thin ice internationally . Warner is the next spot to be challenged after the ashes and let's see how he goes in it too as nz exposed him in first two two tests last year let alone hard to tell with groin injury against india
Jeff
Roar Rookie
Well, we'll have to see what the schedule for the Ashes looks like (seems like the 5th Test will be mid Jan) and how the likes of Pattinson/Starc are performing come next season. Previous averages/performances from bowlers at certain grounds are one thing, but whether they are "on-song" or "tuned-up" in a particular season is another. Irrespective, I think we have the pace bowling depth to hold us in good stead against England next summer. As you say, who plays and when will be important.
Pierro
Roar Rookie
It’s actually all about rotation no matter the results and playing starc in the pink ball matches where he excels at night and pattinson at mcg where he has an average of 16 and played three times for three wins . It should have been that way against india but the selectors are daft and are too stubborn to rotate off a win where we were we well beaten at adelaide first innings but for cummins and hazelwoods emphatic second innings spell . Pattinson must okay at mcg his average is phenomenal there and they wrong not to play him there against india
Pierro
Roar Rookie
If the selectors acknowledge pattinson is a first pick at mcg with cummins given his average of 16 at the mcg it might help . They just wouldn’t rotate at mcg after the adelaide win against india but that was down to a fine , well all time great , spell from hazelwood and cummins as aus beaten well first innings at d Adelaide The selectors don’t rotate properly, even off a win and if they do it again we will pay the price . Generally starc has a good record at gabba but it’s when the test is played November and there is more bounce in it . Starc can start gabba and the pink ball test for sure as he’s brilliant at night with pink ball . Pattinson mcg is an instant selection . It’s not rocket science but seems to be too hard for the selectors to figure out after losing to india twice without pattinson at mcg although there are of course other factors in the loss
Pierro
Roar Rookie
Bernie its spot on to an extent what your saying depending on the order of the venues which were chopped and changed . Starc is clearly very good at night with pink ball in fact any dn test on fact probably any pink dn test if we play two due to his yorker speed and swing at times . The biggest sin from the Selectors is they would rotate after the win at adelaide when pattinson is a clear first pick with cummins at mcg . Average of 16 at mcg is outstanding with three test wins from three matches when pattinson plays there . I think starc usually goes well at Brisbane when it’s first up in November with more bounce it was played in January this year and was a bit flatter . If the selector don’t learn to rotate properly australia will suffer the consequences as they did against England