Victorian speedster James Pattinson set to play in Boxing Day Test, says coach Justin Langer
Justin Langer has announced who will line up in the Boxing Day Test - and it is sure to please any Victorian. Can they fill the hole left by Josh Hazlewood?
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Victorian James Pattinson has all but been confirmed to play in the Boxing Day Test against New Zealand starting this Thursday by coach Justin Langer.
After a week of what Langer described as a “storm in a tea cup” following heavy criticism for his selection of veteran Peter Siddle into the 13-man squad as a replacement for the injured
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Josh Hazlewood, the Australian coach indicated Pattinson would be in the XI come Thursday.
“I am really looking forward to seeing Patto bowl and bowl well in this Boxing Day Test, which is his home ground as well,” Langer told 6PR yesterday.
“I hope what I have shown has in the last 18 months is that we have been really consistent in our selection.
“James Pattinson was 12th man and he’s been unlucky, he only played a couple of Tests in the Ashes. He is so hungry like Mitchell Starc.”
Pattinson has played just two Boxing Day Tests, including a man-of-the-match performance against India in 2011 in what was just his third Test, taking six wickets in each game at an average of 19 runs.
The Australians are coming off a dominant 296-run victory at Optus Stadium, but Langer is not declaring his team would not walk over their Trans Tasman rivals.
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“I thought we would have the best of the conditions in Perth because the bouncier wickets are quite foreign to the New Zealanders,” he said.
“They will come more into their own at the MCG and SCG I think.
“While we played great cricket in the first Test, we know we are going to have to be really on top of it to beat the second best team in the world.
“If we can do that, then we are certainly moving in the right direction.”
Langer also backed MCG curator Matt Page to provide a good pitch for the Test, despite the Sheffield Shield game between WA and Victoria being abandoned earlier this month after it was deemed dangerous.
“I know they are going to be under some pressure, there is no doubt about that,” he said.
“But I also know that Matt Page is an incredibly hard worker.
“They got it wrong in the last Shield game, but they were getting it right for the two Shield games before.
“He’ll have some nervous nights Pagey, but I am confident he will get a good wicket up.”