Pattinson looking forward to SA challenge – Cricket News Update
Australian young fast bowler James Pattinson says that he is looking forward to the challenge of playing against a daunting South African batting lineup when the Test series begins from November 9th.
The Kangaroos kick-off another home summer next week, hoping to play with the same energy and drive which saw them end the previous season unbeaten. Under Michael Clarke, the Aussies have not tasted defeat in a full Test series, and much of their success has been attributed to a strong bowling combination, which contains the likes of old hands in Peter Siddle and Ben Hilfenhaus, along with youngsters in James Pattinson, Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins.
The race for the third seamer’s spot is still up for debate, but it is likely that Pattinson will get the nod, having performed well against New Zealand and India, while further doing reasonably well in the domestic circuit in the absence of Starc and Cummins, both of whom were performing T20 duties in South Africa.
However, his task will not be easy, given South Africa’s batting depth, all of whom have been in neat touch. The opening slot will be filled by Test skipper, Graeme Smith, and Alviro Petersen, who has hit top form since making a comeback to the national side.
Hashim Amla comes in at no.3, followed by Jacques Kallis, limited-overs captain, AB de Villiers and Jacques Rudolph. With De Villiers filling the wicket-keeping role as well, it allows the Proteas to play an extra batsman at no.7, the recipient of which remains JP Duminy.
Pattinson himself termed the task of containing the opponents a daunting one but remains geared up for the challenge as he feels that any player can be vulnerable on any given day.
"Any batsman is vulnerable if you bowl well," Pattinson said. "The Gabba and the WACA is going to give some good assistance for that bouncer and it's all about getting your plans against the right batsmen. We've definitely touched on that in the last couple of weeks… about how to set different batsmen up.
"Amla has been in great form, Graeme Smith has been in great form and you look at them and they're probably their key at the top of the order, as well as Kallis. It's a pretty long batting line-up and a pretty daunting task as a bowler but something that I'm looking forward to. These challenges don't come around very often. Hopefully we can knock them over and get the wood on them.”
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