Former Australian pace bowler James Pattinson banned after ‘unsavoury’ act

Cricket Australia has come down hard on former Test paceman James Pattinson following the Victorian’s “unsavoury” outburst.

James Pattinson of Victoria. Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images

Former Australian pace bowler James Pattinson has been suspended following an “unsavoury” outburst during a Sheffield Shield clash against New South Wales at the MCG.

On day four of the first-class match in Melbourne, Blues opener Hughes pushed a full delivery back at Pattinson, who quickly collected the ball and threw it towards the stumps at the striker’s end.

But the Victorian’s wayward throw smacked into the batter’s foot, leaving Hughes in considerable pain.

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“He’s a fiery boy, old Patto,” Victorian captain Peter Handscomb said after the game.

“We had a little quiet chat, the umpires and myself, just to see what they were thinking, but we’ll move on.”

Illawarra Mercury reporter Tim Barrow tweeted: “Absolute f-grade rubbish from Pattinson.”

On Wednesday morning, Cricket Australia confirmed that Pattinson had been found guilty of a Level 2 offence under the CA Code of Conduct.

The Victorian quick was subsequently fined 100 per cent of his match fee, and will miss Friday’s Marsh Cup game at the MCG.

James Pattinson will not feature in Friday’s Marsh Cup game. Photo by Kelly Defina/Getty Images

“Pattinson was charged and found guilty under Article 2.7 of the Code for throwing a ball at or near a player in an inappropriate and/or dangerous manner during a match,” CA said in a statement.”

“Pattinson was fined 100 per cent of his match fee for the Marsh Sheffield Shield match between Victoria and New South Wales held on November 5-8, 2021. He also received one suspension point and will be ineligible for selection in the Victoria v New South Wales Marsh One-Day Cup match on November 12.

“Pattinson has the right to appeal the decision.”

Speaking on Fox Cricket, former Australian Test spinner Kerry O’Keeffe blasted Pattinson’s “unsavoury” actions.

“The two most unsavoury aspects are, a) the send-off when you’ve got somebody out and, b) the chuck at the stumps by a bowler,” O’Keeffe said.

“Are we the only country that does it? Like, Mitch Starc does it for fun in England and he gets booed. Is it the way we play our cricket? You hit it back to the bowler, he picks it up and wants to peg you – I mean, what is going on there?

“The ball is dead once it’s in his hands. Walk back to the mark and bowl it again.”

Pattinson finished with match figures of 3/94 as Victoria secured a 174-run victory over the Blues.

The 31-year-old announced his retirement from international cricket last month, opening the door for Sean Abbott or Michael Neser to make their Test debut this summer.

The Marsh Cup match between Victoria and New South Wales is scheduled to commence at 2.35pm AEDT on Friday.