James Pattinson eager to play back-to-back Tests for Australia

The next step of the process is playing some consistent cricket, says the bowler.

Pattinsion says his body is feeling good | Getty Images

Australian paceman James Pattinson has on Monday, November 11, declared that he is ready to play back-to-back Test matches ahead of the packed home season, insisting that he has still got a lot of cricket left in him after successful comeback in Ashes 2019.

After suffering a series of constant injury setbacks, Pattinson underwent life-changing major back surgery in 2017 to save his Test career – which took almost 10 months to heal, though the speedster did all possible efforts to come back into shape and he was eventually recalled for successful Ashes campaign in England after a three-year hiatus.

However, he could play only in the first and third Test match of the series, but now he is now ready to play back-to-back matches for Australia in the longest format of the game as he gears up to battle with Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood for the pacer’s berth ahead of Pakistan Tests.

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Pattinson told cricket.com.au, “When I got back from England I sort of didn't know what to do because I'd usually be nursing a stress fracture or something like that. So to rock up, have four days off and bowl again – I was like, 'what's this all about?' It's things like that where you pinch yourself and go, 'this is good, things are starting to line up a little bit'.”

The bowler continued, “Still not being 30 yet, I've still got a lot of cricket left. I have been injury-free for the most part of a year now. The body is feeling good. I think the next process for me if I do get a chance in the Test arena, is to try and play more back-to-back cricket now.”

Pattinson signed off by saying, “When you see the batters, they're playing all the time and getting into a rhythm. As a bowler, it's hard because you're always stopping and going, stopping and going. Hopefully, that next process is playing consistent cricket.”

Noteworthy, the bowler is all set to return for Victoria against Queensland in a Sheffield Shield clash at the MCG starting on Tuesday to stake his claim for the Pakistan Test as the Cricket Australia will be announcing Australia squad for the two-match series on Thursday, November 14.

(With cricket.com.au Inputs)

 
 

By Rashmi Nanda - 11 Nov, 2019

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