James Pattinson cops ‘personal abuse’ ban, out of Test
James Pattinson has paid a hefty price for an alleged homophobic slur aimed at a former teammate during a recent Sheffield Shield game with banishment from Australia’s first Test squad to face Pakistan.
Vic Cricket
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Australian cricket’s behavioural revolution has had an embarrassing setback, with rampaging quick James Pattinson banished from the Test side due to an alleged homophobic slur.
It’s understood the slur directed by Pattinson to Queensland fast bowler Cameron Gannon during the Sheffield Shield match at the MCG last week was an exchange between former teammates and friends.
But it caught the ear of the umpires and was reported, despite the immediate apologies of a contrite, Pattinson.
The result is Pattinson is ineligible for the first Test at the Gabba against Pakistan starting on Thursday, not that he was any certainty to force his way into the attack.
Pattinson was hit with a level two offence but his bad disciplinary record counted against him.
“I made a mistake in the heat of the moment,” said Pattinson.
“Straight away I realised I was in the wrong and 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.”
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Australia captain Tm Paine said Pattinson had let the team down.
“It’s unfortunate, it doesn’t sit certainly (well) with our values what James has done,” said Pattinson.
“He knows that and understands that and he’ll learn from it. Missing a Test match potentially is a hard thing to deal with, but he’ll learn from that and come back better.
“I don’t know the exact details of the situation, there’s been hearings and it’s been dealt with by the appropriate people. James understands he’s let himself down, he’s let our group down and we expect him to bounce back.”
Cricket Australia head of integrity Sean Carroll said Pattinson deserved the punishment of two suspension points – constituting in a Test, particularly given he had two other level one code of conduct offences in the same year.
“We have a duty to uphold the highest standards of behaviour and the action taken in this matter demonstrates that,” said Carroll.
“On this occasion James acknowledges he fell short of that expectation.”
Australia will not replace Pattinson in the squad, with Mitchell Starc now certain to play and Michael Neser the standby bowler.
Pattinson was fielding for Victoria against Queensland at the MCG last week when the incident occurred.
The firebrand apologised immediately to Gannon, a former teammate of his from the Melbourne Renegades.
It’s understood Gannon did not want to proceed with a charge, but the match referee and umpire saw things differently.