It’s been a career of that sorts where James Pattinson has found himself spending more time nursing his injuries than playing for Australia. And even as the manufacturing line of fast bowlers has been pretty impressive for Australia, they have realised that workload management will be crucial in order to have their best available at crucial times. And thus, even as Pattinson made a comeback to the national side during the Ashes, after a break of three years, his rests periods were well taken care of. However, the 29-year old pacer believes he is ready to play back-to-back Tests.
“When I got back from England, I didn’t know what to do because usually I’d be nursing a stress fracture,” he said. “To rock up, have four days off and bowl again – I was like, ‘what’s this all about?’ It’s things like that where you pinch yourself and go, ‘this is good, things are starting to line up a little bit’. Still not being 30 yet, I’ve still got a lot of cricket left.”
That workload management has continued for Pattinson even in Sheffield Shield, where he was rested for the third game after bowling 60 overs and picking up five wickets in his first two. He will now lead Victoria in their first game at the MCG this season, ahead of the upcoming Test series against Pakistan.
“The next process for me now is, if I do get the chance in the Test arena, is the chance to play more back-to-back cricket now,” he said. “Coming into the team and being out for three years, the next process is to play more back-to-back cricket. I’ve been injury-free for the best part of a year now and the body is feeling good. Hopefully, that’s the next progression.
“When you see the batters, they’re playing all the time and getting into a rhythm. As a bowler, it’s hard because you’re always stopping and going, stopping and going. Hopefully, that next process is playing consistent cricket.”
Even as Pattinson is going through an injury-free phase, he continues to face a stiff competition for a place in the Australian starting XI. While the likes of Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood were the stand out bowlers for Australia in the Ashes, Mitchell Starc and Peter Siddle are also contesting for a place in the team, apart from younger pacers like Michael Neser and Jhye Richardson.
“We’ve got a lot of fast bowlers up at the moment, which is great for Australian cricket,” Pattinson said. “All anyone can do is go out there and do their best for the team they’re playing in.”
