With A Home Ashes In Sight James Pattinson Vying For A Place In The Eleven At The Age Of 'Only 30'

Fast bowler James Pattinson is hoping to get back in the playing eleven of the Australian team for the home Ashes later this year.

The pacer last played a Test match in January 2020 against New Zealand; he was benched for the entire series against India as Australia played all 4 Tests with their three first-choice pacers in Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, and Mitchell Starc, with Camron Green as the all-rounder.

However, James Pattinson, not too long ago, in the 2019 Ashes in England started ahead of Starc and help Australia retain the urn. With Starc losing his lethality – inconsistent and leaking runs – in the past couple of years, Pattinson will once again be in contention to start ahead of Starc in the Ashes this year, which happens to be the only scheduled Test series this year, barring a one-off Test against Afghanistan.

I’ll be putting all my eggs in trying to get ready for the Ashes: James Pattinson

While Pattinson is just 30, and he made his Test debut way back in 2011, despite that he has featured in only 21 Tests for Australia snaring up 81 wickets at 26.33. He has had an injury-marred career, in otherwise what could have been a superb one.

While he has struck down the possibility of making it into the T20 squad, having last played a T20 international in 2012, the Victorian is focussing solely on Test cricket and the Ashes, which could be his third Test against England. However, with youngsters Michael Neser, and Sean Abbott also in the fray, Pattinson will have to compete harder.

As quoted by India Today, James Pattinson said, “In terms of my body it probably feels the best that it has and in terms of my back – it’s come really good. There’s plenty of time, I’m only 30 now. There’s obviously the Ashes next year, which is probably the next challenge. I’d love to play all formats but I haven’t played (enough) T20 cricket. I’ll be focusing more on pre-season and putting all my eggs in trying to get ready for the Ashes.”

He speaks of the frustrations of being benched for an entire series, and that too under the restrictions of the bio-bubble. Pattinson has spent months in the bio-bubble – with the Mumbai Indians in the IPL 2020, and won the title with them, and then during the Test series against India at home. 21

“You’re sitting in a hub and you’re 12th or 13th man for Australia – which is fantastic – but … you’re missing out on playing cricket. You’re bowling in the nets and at times it can be frustrating as a 30-year-old when you’ve done a lot of that already,” the pacer further added.

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