The loss of James Pattinson for the rest of the Test summer is a big one, and will be telling in Perth and the series against Sri Lanka.
In only six Tests, Pattinson has taken 31 wickets at a shade above 20. This is a very small sample size, admittedly, but as always, statistics alone don’t tell the full story.
To me, Pattinson looks like the new model fast bowler. He goes about his work in the same way as Dale Steyn, bowling curling outswingers at serious pace, with a strong mean streak to boot.
Pattinson looks to have an action that is complete. He has a balanced approach to the crease, running in fast but not too fast, presents an open chest at delivery and finishes with a powerful follow-through.
These basic elements should remain the same for the rest of his career. It’s textbook, and has been reaping him rewards in the form of wickets against all opposition he has played so far.
Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins might have some remodelling to do in this area.
Watching Pattinson in Australia’s demolition of India last summer, one was reminded of McGrath in his heyday.
It wasn’t in any tangible way. He did not show McGrath’s metronome consistency, or display an ability to nibble it each way off a length.
What he did show was a genuine joy in taking wickets and an even more genuine loathing of batsmen.
It is this hatred of willow-handlers that has impressed me the most, and will continue to impress me as long as he shows it. It is the best quality for an alpha fast bowler, which Pattinson certainly has the ability to become.
To despise batsmen so deeply at the age of 22 is a good sign. Hopefully he will become even more obstinate in his views over the coming years.
While Siddle may be listed as the leader of the pace attack, it is Pattinson who has shown the ability to be a stock wicket taker.
It is no wonder, in this case, it is Pattinson and not Siddle who is being thrown the new red cherry by skipper Michael Clarke.
That’s not to discount Siddle’s contribution at all. If there is one man you want to have in your side when two batsmen have just racked up the 200 partnership, it’s Siddle.
He is the one most likely to get two century-makers out in the space of three overs and reset an innings.
He too is an invaluable asset.
There is something very attractive about Pattinson’s bowling. He seems effortless in his sending down of 140km/ph outswingers that would trouble any batsmen.
They certainly troubled Sehwag, Gambhir and Laxman last season and has dismissed Graeme Smith twice so far this summer.
There’s no doubt that Pattinson went overboard with his send-off of South Africa’s well-respected captain. It was an inglorious moment in what, so far, has been a summer of gloriously competitive cricket.
It’s to be expected for 22-year-olds to make mistakes, though this doesn’t make it any more acceptable. Channelling his aggression will be the next skill he has to master.
Pattinson’s injury will mean Mitchell Starc gets a crack in Perth, which with the assistance of a cross breeze could result in a big bag of poles for the big lefty. Let’s hope so.
I look forward to a time when these two get to bowl in tandem over an entire series. By the way both of them are going, it’s probably not too far away.
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