Pattinson likely to join team in the later stages of the tri-series - Cricket News Update
The Australian cricket coach, Mickey Arthur on Wednesday hinted that the injured young pacer James Pattinson will return to the side in the latter stages of the ongoing tri-nation One Day International series, featuring India and Sri Lanka besides the host
Australia.
Pattinson, the 21-year-old Victorian pace bowler, is recovering from a foot injury he had sustained during the four-match Test series against India. The rookie pacer had picked up a foot strain during the second Test of the series at Sydney and missed the
remainder of the Test series as well as the two-match T20 series.
After missing the Commonwealth Bank series opener at Melbourne, the right-arm medium pacer bowled a few spells in the nets during Australia’s practice session. Pattinson’s comeback to the nets has given Arthur hopes of seeing him back in the squad by the
final stages of the triangular series.
"Pattinson bowled at us in Melbourne, so he's coming back. We could see Pattinson at the back end of the one-day series," said Arthur while speaking to media reporters before the start of the second one-day of the tri-series between India and Sri Lanka at
WACA, Perth.
The Victorian pacer featured in only the first two Tests against India but in those matches he was the star performer. He consistently troubled the formidable Indian batting line up picking up 11 wickets from the four innings at an average of 23.36. He was
also adjudged as the man of the match for the Boxing Day Test played at Melbourne.
Ben Hilfenhaus, the leading wicket taker during the Tests series, has been recalled into the side as a replacement for the injured Brett Lee. In the Test series against India, the lanky pacer picked up 27 wickets at an impressive average of 17.22 and Arthur
hopes he will take the aggression into the one-day series as well.
Australia will next play Sri Lanka at Perth on Friday and Arthur said his fast bowlers are raring to go out and perform in the seamer-friendly WACA conditions.
"They are all very keen to get out on the WACA,” said Arthur of Australian pacers. “Hilfy (Hilfenhaus) has come in as standby. It's likely that we will have the same attack. But again that's tomorrow's problem," he added further.