Patterson added to Test squad for Sri Lanka series

Test selectors have handed an 11th-hour call-up to an in-form batsman despite insisting their squad for the Sri Lanka series was set.

Kurtis Patterson. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

It wasn’t supposed to be a selection trial and wasn’t even a first-class match — but Kurtis Patterson’s twin tons against the touring Sri Lankans have proven impossible for Test selectors to ignore.

The Daily Telegraph has revealed the red-hot NSW batsman is a last-minute addition to Australia’s squad for the two-match series beginning on Thursday in Brisbane in the latest selection shocker.

Patterson, 25, proved the stand out strokemaker in a Cricket Australia XI featuring recent Test call-ups Joe Burns, Matt Renshaw, Marnus Labuschagne and Will Pucovski with an unbeaten 102 on Saturday following his 157 not out in the first innings in Hobart.

The Australian’s Peter Lalor tweeted it “looks like he will play too” as selectors continue to tinker with an out-of-form batting lineup.

Kurtis Patterson also added to squad for day night Test in Bris this week.

Looks like he will play too after making 157 not out and 102 not out against Sri Lanka for a Cricket Australia XI in Hobart against pink ball in tour match.

— Peter Lalor (@plalor) January 20, 2019

Very conflicted about Kurtis Patterson's selection. Think he's a v good player, should have been picked years ago when they went for Maddinson. But there's still absolutely no strategy to selection, the panel ripping up plans and moving to the next weekly.

— Dean Bilton (@Dean_Bilton) January 20, 2019

Question for people that know cricket far better than me... Patterson selection a good one or does it smack a bit of desperation? 🤔

— Julian de Stoop (@JDESTOOP80_FOX) January 20, 2019

Full credit to Kurtis Patterson.

Spoke to him on the way back from Hobart and he was very calm about lack of feedback. Told me he was going to call Trevor Hohns today to find out where he stood.

Looks like they beat him to the punch. #AUSvSL

— Matthew Taylor (@MattyA_Taylor) January 20, 2019

Patterson scored a big ton in Sydney Premier Cricket a week prior to his twin tons for CA XI

There's red ball cricket available if players want it! Be nice to see more go back to grade cricket during the BBL https://t.co/Bf7FPjlNzr

— Simon Brunsdon (@SimonBrunsdon) January 20, 2019

Left arm spinner Jon Holland, who led the CA XI attack with 4/28 from 15 overs, had predicted Patterson’s elevation after the match.

“Kurtis has been batting really well for a number of years now he makes a lot of runs for NSW so I think he can’t be too far off the radar for a call up to the Australian team,” Holland said.

It was sooner than anyone thought but comes on the back of Patterson’s strong Sheffield Shield season which saw him make an unbeaten ton against Western Australia in Perth and make twin fifties against Victoria in Melbourne.

The left-hander, who bats at first drop for NSW, burst on the scene in 2011 when he became the youngest batsman to score a Shield century at 18 years of age.

Patterson didn’t convert that promising start into consistent success until the 2015-16 season, when he led his state with 737 runs.

Kurtis Patterson. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

Patterson’s elevation comes after pace bowler Jhye Richardson — the star with the ball in Australia’s ODI series against India — was added to the squad on Saturday after Josh Hazlewood was ruled out with a back injury.

“Jhye has had an impressive first half in his Sheffield Shield season and no-one could deny he has now continued that form in ODI matches for Australia,” selection chief Trevor Hohns said. “We consider Jhye to be an ideal replacement in the squad for Josh.”

The tourists are coming off a Test series loss in New Zealand but skipper Dinesh Chandimal is confident of challenging Australia.

Sri Lanka won the most recent series against Australia 3-0 in 2016 but have never won a Test match in Australia in 13 attempts dating back to 1989.

Australia: Tim Paine (c/wk), Joe Burns, Pat Cummins, Marcus Harris, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Kurtis Patterson, Will Pucovski, Matt Renshaw, Jhye Richardson, Mitchell Starc, Peter Siddle

Sri Lanka: Dinesh Chandimal (c), Dimuth Karunaratne, Lahiru Thirimanne, Kusal Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Dhananjaya de Silva, Roshen Silva, Niroshan Dickwella (wk), Kusal Perera, Dilruwan Perera, Lakshan Sandakan, Suranga Lakmal, Nuwan Pradeep, Lahiru Kumara, Dushmantha Chameera, Kasun Rajitha