James Pattinson Suspended, Out Of First Test Against Pakistan

Cricket Australia (CA), on Sunday, suspended fast-bowler James Pattinson after he was found guilty of breaching a code of conduct during a Sheffield Shield game last week. As a result of the suspension, the pacer would miss the upcoming first Test against Pakistan at the Gabba.

The speedster has been found guilty of a Level Two breach of CA’s Code of Conduct following Victoria’s Sheffield Shield game against Queensland last week. Under the Code, a Level Two breach is enough to trigger a suspension. CA did not reveal the exact details of the bowler’s offence. But James Pattinson was found guilty of a Level Two breach of Article 2.1.3 which relates to personal abuse of a player.

“I made a mistake in the heat of the moment,” Pattinson said in a statement released by CA.

“Straight away I realised I was in the wrong, and I apologised immediately, both to the opponent and to the umpires. I have done the wrong thing and accept the penalty. I’m gutted to miss a Test match, but the standards are there for a reason and the fault is mine,” he added.

This is the third time this year that Pattinson has been found guilty of a Code of Conduct breach in Shield games. Earlier this year in March, he was found guilty of two separate breaches. The first one was for  abuse of equipment while the second one was for showing dissent in the following week. These offences were considered minor and classified as Level One breaches.

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A third Level One offence within 18 months would have triggered a ban. But the latest Level Two breach was enough alone to see Pattinson suspended. According to the Code, four Level One breaches within an 18-month period could lead to the imposition of 12 suspension points, which is the equivalent of six Test matches or 12 limited-overs games (or a combination of both depending on the schedule).

Thus Pattinson needs to be mindful of his behaviour on the field. Another offence irrespective of how minor it would be in the next ten months could lead to a lengthy ban for the pacer.