South African fast bowling great Dale Steyn has likened James Pattinson to legends Curtly Ambrose, Allan Donald
South African fast bowling great Dale Steyn has heaped the highest of praise on Aussie firebrand James Pattinson, saying he has the aggression and skill of legendary speedsters Curtly Ambrose and Allan Donald.
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James Pattinson has been likened to intimidating West Indies fast bowler Curtly Ambrose on the verge of his Boxing Day comeback.
South African great Dale Steyn says Pattinson is a beast straight out of an era in which big, strapping fast bowlers would puff out their chests and deliver rockets.
“He storms in, runs in, bowls hard and he’s in your face,” Steyn said.
“That’s what old fast bowlers were like when I was growing up like the Ambroses and (Allan) Donalds and he epitomises that.
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“But the game has also moved on a lot. We’re at a point now where you need to deliver skill, and he’s got that — both the aggression and the skill.”
Mitchell Marsh said ‘Patto’ is the bloke you love to play with — but not against.
“Facing him at times is very hard because he can be in your face and up and about,” Marsh said.
“He’s walked me out to the crease a few times over the years against Victoria. He is quite an intimidating bloke and hopefully the Kiwis can feel that.”
Victorian coach Lachie Stevens said Steyn’s assertion was as accurate as his radar.
“That’s quite a good phrase for him — old school,” Stevens said.
“I get messages from my generation and older from guys who just love their cricket, but not necessarily cricketers, and they all love James Pattinson.
“He’ll give you the stare, he’ll try and impose himself on the game and I think a lot of older cricket lovers really enjoy that about him.”
The man himself is tired of being the cotton wool kid and believes he is on the verge of becoming a robust campaigner.
Four years after his last Boxing Day Test, the MCG attack dog is still spurred on by the heartbreak years of being cut down by injury when he was Australia’s No.1 spearhead at 23.
In no time at all he went from being arguably the top seed of a once-in-a-generation crop of new talent — including Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc — to facing the prospect of never playing Test cricket again.
“It would’ve been so hard at times and there would’ve been some very big lows and he would’ve thought that (he might struggle to return) for a long period of time,” Stevens said.
“Whether he went through moments where he thought, ‘That’s it, I’m done’ I can’t tell you but no one would blame him if he did have those thoughts.”
But Pattinson said his Ashes return was a moment of profound relief just 18 months after spinal surgery which had the potential to end his career.
Before that series Pattinson went three years where he bowled more than 20 overs in an innings just four times.
Since then it’s happened seven times in six games.
Pattinson doesn’t feel his comeback to Test cricket will be complete until Australia feels comfortable enough to once again let him completely off the leash.
Selectors baulked at playing Pattinson back-to-back in the Ashes and in the end he only played two Tests.
“It’s all a build-up,” Pattinson said.
“I think I will get to a point in the not too distant future where if I’m playing well and my body is feeling good and similar to Patty (Cummins) … you just keep playing,” said Pattinson.
“After everything I had been through with my back, you’re not sure if you’ll get back to playing Test cricket or playing cricket at all.
“Six years ago (I was ruled out of the 2013 Ashes with a back injury) and that was hard to take. I was only 23 at that stage and I was opening the bowling and leading the attack.
“For my back to cark it, and then every time I would go again, the same thing would happen.
“It was frustrating because every time I came back I would get a little bit further and get months in, and then my back would pack it in and I’d be in rehab again.
“Just getting picked in that Ashes team and getting selected in the first Test and winning it was a really good moment. That’s something I was pretty proud of to say I got back after having such a big setback.
“I’ve ticked that box so to speak and now (it’s time to) re-evaluate and work on the plan now going forward.”
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Mystery surrounds what deck the MCG might toss up, but no one is praying for a change from the flat docile tracks of recent years more than Pattinson.
“I was in England for five and a half months and I don’t think I played on one fast wicket,” he said.
“Sometimes it’s good to just get out and play on something that has a bit more pace on it and bounce and the way I bowl suits that style.”
But Pattinson doesn’t need spice in a pitch to liven up a contest.
Stevens remembers a Sheffield Shield contest against Queensland where the tiny crowd at Allan Border Field stirred Pattinson, and so he stirred them straight back.
“He was bowling beautifully with the Dukes ball, so we had a lot of slips in and no one really in front of the wicket,” Stevens said.
“He bowled a full delivery and the batter punched it into the covers, and the crowd started yelling out, ‘Easy runs! Easy runs!’
“The next delivery he swung the ball and the batter nicked it to first slip. He just started yelling out, ‘Easy wickets! Easy wickets!’
“The crowd enjoyed it and the players enjoyed it too.
“He can swing the ball at pace and he can also bash back of length and push batters back.
“He’s aggressive and just a fantastic competitor.
“That’s what I would say about Jimmy Pattinson, you love having him on your side because he just gives it everything he’s got all the time and he just doesn’t know any other way.
“That’s why players love playing with him and that’s why he’s got another opportunity.”