Sadly, one of Australia’s most underrated fast bowlers, James Pattinson, has retired from international cricket.
Pato, as he was nicknamed, was dangerously quick, and we as cricket fans will miss out on a fast bowler who could make every audience stop and watch his magical spells on any arena, from grade cricket to the Boxing Day Test.
There are many players who represented Australia but unfortunately retried early due to injury. I’m thinking of Phil Jaques, Ryan Harris and Peter George, who never hit their top. Now James Pattinson joins that list.
Pattinson was scary from the outset with bat and ball in hand, even at Victoria under-18 level, and as he rose up the ranks he became only more awesome to watch. When he came to playing Test cricket, boy was it fun to watch, especially that first Test against New Zealand at the Gabba, in which he took five wickets. It could be compared to only Dale Steyn’s debut.
Then against India he showed his whole worth with five wickets and a knock of 55, which made Bill Lawry proud. If you need reminding, jump on YouTube and watch the highlights, because they are brilliant to watch.
Then he went to the Subcontinent, where the best fast bowlers in the world go to die, but in the first Test against the same Indian team he destroyed in the Aussie summer he repeated his heroics, taking another five-wicket haul in Chepauk.
Then Pattinson had a hiatus due to the chaos that was ‘homeworkgate’, and he was made to wait his turn while Australia went on to win the Ashes five-nil.
Adjustments to his bowling style were made in the interim despite the risk of lower back stress fractures, and after making some noise in the Big Bash League and the Sheffield Shield, he was back in the national Test side – albeit at a chaotic time for Australian cricket, which was reeling from a series loss to South Africa.
His first match back was against the West Indies, with the Aussies looking to regain some respect. And It was like he’d never left. He was fast and scary quick, and he equalled his best figures with 5-27.
Sadly, those stress fractures came back to haunt him, and he faced another long battle to return to the red-ball game. It eventually came in the third Ashes Test in 2019 in Headingley, a match headlined by Ben Stokes.
Pattinson took three wickets in the match, but he was dropped for Mitchell Starc due to the side’s bowling rotation policy.
After sitting on the sidelines and watching on as his teammates reclaimed the Ashes in England for the first time in 20 years, Pattinson returned to domestic cricket with a point to prove. He took wicket after wicket and made run after run until he was recalled for the second Test against New Zealand at his home deck, the MCG.
He took six wickets in the game, but they were the last wickets he would ever take at the international level, with his follow-up performance at the SCG yielding no scalps.
Pattinson would never return to the Test scene, and last Wednesday afternoon he announced his international retirement.
Pattinson played 21 matches that featured four five-wicket hauls, a best result of 5-27, 81 wickets and a Test batting average of 26.06.
He will forever remain a what-if, a fast bowling enigma and, most of all a genuine Test cricketer.
Gus O
Roar Rookie
Thank you for the article. Well played Patto, always a wholehearted effort. Respect.
matth
Roar Guru
And Patto always had that bit of crazy-eyed loose cannon about him that makes fast bowlers so watchable. He will be missed.
Paul
Roar Guru
completely agree. As I said elsewhere when his retirement was announced, he was one of the very few who consistently remained sharp & dangerous on pitches that were close to roads.
Pierro
Roar Rookie
Three tests at mcg three wins with Patti . Didn’t get picked after pink ball test there 3 times against england and India twice . Result two losses and a draw in which rain saved Australia . Selectors can’t help picking the same pink ball test team every time when your best mcg bowler av 12 to 14 is not played
Pierro
Roar Rookie
Pattinson can take comfort he played in one of the great bowling line ups for Australia he deserves to be mentioned alongside Hazelwood and Cummins …much like lillee and thomo and McGrath and Warne . He was always very much alongside paddy and Josh but for injuries making it to difficult and what an effort he made to come back. He should be very very proud of himself . Aussies lucky to have him
Pierro
Roar Rookie
Great post Paul and a great catch . Truely the guy had three decent tests or more at mcg for an average of 12 from memory better at that ground than any of other bowlers and they kept going with the pink ball line up that drew and lost to India there without him . I said it each time pre both matches on roar . He had to play at mcg .
Pierro
Roar Rookie
Very true words peter j . Pattinson and r Harris bled for the green and gold
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
A great loss...
Paul
Roar Guru
Thanks Patrick, this was a very fine tribute to an excellent fast bowler. Even allowing for injuries, I still think he missed maybe an other dozen Tests where he had every right to expect to be chosen. The selectors talked a lot about fast bowling workloads, rotation of the quicks, etc, but in reality, has much of that happened? There's been a lot of occasions where it should have happened, but didn't. Much will be made about what might have been for Pattinson, but he should be very proud of his achievements. His record is an excellent one. He also took one the great outfield catches seen at the SCG. Remember this; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q81sh78Ulxw
moaman
Roar Guru
Bummer. He is a class bowler.
peterj
Roar Rookie
When all of the current bowlers were coming onto the scene, everyone was raving over Cummins and understandably after his debut and I’m so happy that he has gotten over his injury problems. I always loved Patto though. His aggression, speed but also accurate bowling was impossible to take your eye off. I was always hopeful he would get over his injuries but unfortunately not. Great article summarising his career. Up there with Harris for mine as they great what if.
Gee
Roar Rookie
A funny coincidence he had test batting & bowling averages of 26, like Paul Rieffel. Another Victorian screwed out of a long test career by poor selectors picking inferior bowlers.
Pierro
Roar Rookie
A great Shame our best bowler easily at mcg o. Averages there and they refused to rotate him in Last year to our detriment as we lost there and drew against India twice when selectors refused to rotate side off a pink ball test which is very different . He was a fierce bowler for Australia and unlucky with injuries . I was hoping he would reconsider for the boxing day test but seems he thinks his body isn’t right . Neser , steketee now seem next in line to me unless Richardson can get back to his pre injury form . Jhye is another unlucky player with that horendous injury fielding. I wish Pattinson well he deserved to be selected on rotation at specific grounds more often than he was and the results were often telling . Pattinson is a world class bowler and no doubt he will do well in anything he turns his mindset to in his future
Micko
Roar Rookie
Looks like Jhye Richardson could be heading down that path too. :unhappy: