Kurtis Patterson’s unbeaten century the highlight as Australia ease batting woes

He’s been hailed as Australia’s version of Alastair Cook and now Kurtis Patterson has all but secured an Ashes spot with a stellar unbeaten ton against Sri Lanka in Canberra.

• CHILLING: Bouncer fells Karunaratne

• MENTAL HEALTH: Cricket Australia stand by Pucovski

Alastair Cook might be gone from Test cricket but Australia will be out to torment England with their own version of the angular Test match champion.

Kurtis Patterson’s maiden unbeaten century against Sri Lanka in just his second Test has ensured that for all Australia’s bitterness, there’s suddenly a no-vacancy sign hanging over its prospective Ashes squad.

For all the auditions, it would suddenly appear a pretty closed shop six months out from the first Test in Birmingham.

Hundreds from Joe Burns, Travis Head and Patterson have them shaping as iron-clad selections.

Patterson was in great touch en route to securing his maiden ton. Picture by Phil Hillyard.

Steve Smith and David Warner are set to return.

The enthusiasm of Marcus Harris and Marnus Labuschagne will be hard to ignore, as will the experience of Usman Khawaja – and once an all-rounder is factored in selectors will more than likely have to trim their batting numbers rather than search for reinforcements.

England great Michael Vaughan and teammates have likened Patterson’s batting style to that of the recently retired Cook – a comparison the 25-year-old Australian is more than happy to carry as he looked every bit the part on his way to an unbeaten 114.

After watching India declare repeatedly this summer, yesterday it was Australia’s chance to set the agenda as Tim Paine called the innings closed at 5(d)-534, and then his bowling kingpins Pat Cummins, Nathan Lyon and Mitchell Starc responded to leave Sri Lanka 3-123 (and without Dimuth Karunaratne retired hurt) at stumps and 411 runs still in arrears in Canberra.

Patterson’s style has been likened to former England skipper Alastair Cook. Picture by Phil Hillyard.

A fired up Starc was consistently hitting speeds of 150km/h plus to underline his determination to find form.

Patterson may now look to earn himself an English county deal to further hone his Cook-like technique.

“I love watching Alastair play. Moises Henriques said that to me a couple of Shield games ago. Alastair was a fantastic Test player so I’m more than happy to take that every day,” said Patterson on Fox Cricket.

“It was very special. I’ve played that innings in my head a lot of times since I was a little kid. “It was nice to go out there and make it a reality. I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face.

“It has been lightly spoken about (county deal) with the relevant people but I think it’s a bridge I’ll cross once these next three days are over.”

Patterson had a reputation as a cricketer that couldn’t convert starts into hundreds, but now he’s made four in the past 22 days – sighting a century he scored against WA in Perth earlier in the Shield season as his career turnaround.

“Yeah 100 per cent. I think obviously aside from today, my first Test hundred, that’s been my most satisfying career hundred that one in Perth. On what was a reasonably tough wicket we got sent into bat and Jhye Richardson bowled one of the best spells of fast bowling I’ve ever seen,” he said.

“I’ve said to a lot of people it was a big weight off the back.”

Australia took three wickets late on Day Two. Picture by Phil Hillyard.

Australia’s second consecutive day of dominance was soured by the sickening sight of Sri Lankan opener Karunaratne being struck in the back of the head by a Cummins bouncer and then stretchered off Manuka Oval and into an ambulance.

Karunaratne (46 retired hurt) was immediately taken to hospital after complaining of pain in his neck and tingling in his hands and was followed in a separate vehicle carrying his visibly distressed father and sister.

Not since the tragedy involving Phillip Hughes has an Australian ground being descended on by so many medical staff, although thankfully, the incident was nowhere near as severe – with Karunaratne maintaining consciousness.

Cummins was shaken as he approached Karunaratne strapped to the medicab and was reassured by Paine (45 not out) and teammates before resuming his spell following a delay that spanned 12 minutes and left the packed Manuka Oval in an eerie silence.

Australian team doctor Richard Saw cupped Karunaratne’s face and neck firmly in his hands and supported the Sri Lankan right through to him being loaded into the ambulance.

Earlier, captain Paine selflessly declared when he potentially had a shot at scoring his first Test ton and what could have been a breakthrough first-class ton, 12 years after his last.

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