James Pattinson says he’ll keep playing close to the line in Test recall
James Pattinson has promised he won’t be holding back but the fiery paceman knows there’s a line he cannot cross in his return to Test cricket as he puts a controversial start to the summer behind him.
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Fast bowler James Pattinson says he will continue to push the boundaries upon his return from a disciplinary suspension.
The Test quick knows there’s a line he can’t cross, but has promised to not hold back against New Zealand in his Boxing Day return.
“I just play cricket the way I know how to. If that’s pushing the line, it’s pushing the line,” Pattinson said.
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A one-match suspension for an for an alleged homophobic slur in a Sheffield Shield game cost the fiery Victorian a start in the opening Test of the summer against Pakistan.
But an injury to Josh Hazlewood has opened the door for Pattinson to play his third Boxing Day Test, eight years after his first and four years since he last played for his country at the MCG.
While acknowledging his recent mistake, the 29-year-old said he played his best when on the edge.
“When you go through setbacks like that, and getting suspended, you have to think about that a little bit more,” he said.
“There is a line and sometimes you cross it, I think if I look back at that, you learn from your mistakes and you try to address them.
“But I get the best out of my cricket when I am going 100 per cent. I am not going to hold back.”
His MCG appearance will make a full-circle moment for Pattinson who made his Test debut against New Zealand in 2011 before a spate of injuries continued to interrupt his career
The path back to the Test team for Pattinson included spinal fusion surgery in 2017 and moments where he thought the opportunity to play at home again had passed him by.
“The world we live in now, you’ve got to expect that things can pass you by,” he said.
“Having been through so much disappointment with my back, it’s always in the back of your mind. But I like to keep a positive mindset. I worked one day at a time.
“I’ve been hungry pretty much my whole career, it’s no different now. I’ve been through a lot of setbacks and the hunger has always been there.”
Pattinson, who made his Test return in the Ashes opener at Birmingham in August, has an outstanding record against New Zealand, and at the MCG.
He’s taken 20 Kiwi wickets in just three Tests against them, and he has 12 wickets in two Boxing Day Tests, taking six wickets against both India in 2011 and the West Indies in 2015.
Pattinson hasn’t bowled in a match a Sheffield Shield clash in November and his Test teammate Matthew Wade said the Kiwis could feel the force of a bowler ready to unleash.
“He hasn’t been much fun to face in the nets lately,” Wade said.
“He’s put a mountain of work in.”
Originally published as James Pattinson says he’ll keep playing close to the line in Test recall
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