James Pattinson

James Lee Pattinson, also nicknamed “Patto”, is an Australian cricketer who has played all formats of the game. He was born in Melbourne, Victoria on 3 May 1990 and is a renowned Victorian player. He’s a right-arm fast bowler and bats left-handed. His brother, Darren Pattinson is also a cricketer and played one test for England in 2008. He was considered Australia’s next big fast bowler after Glenn McGrath and Brett Lee.

Table of Contents

1. Career
2. Background

Career

Domestic Career

Pattinson first played for Dandenong Cricket Club in Victorian Premier Cricket before he went on to play for the Australian U-19 team. Pattinson started as a fast bowler and also has the ability to hit the ball hard. As a youngster, Pattinson captained Victoria in the national U-18 competition and also represented Australia in the 2008 U-19 World Cup. He made his first-class debut in 2008 when he was just 18. Pattinson’s club career is highlighted by his performance against New South Wales, where he broke a record by picking up 6 wickets in his 10 overs. However, soon after, he suffered from stress fractures in his foot and was forced to miss out on some matches towards the end of the season.

IPL Career

Pattinson's rise to the top was steady, and in 2011 he was picked up IPL team Kolkata Knight Riders for US$100,000 but he never really made his debut as team composition and injuries kept him out of the IPL radar for years to come. However, he caught a lucky break in the year 2020 when Mumbai Indians and their mainstay bowler Lasith Malinga pulled out of the marquee tournament. Pattinson was drafted in as a replacement for the Sri Lankan legend

International Career

ODI Career

He had constantly been under the radar of the Australian Board who later selected him to play for the team in 2011. He started playing for the senior national side at just 21 years of age, making him one of Australia’s youngest ever cricketers. James Pattinson made his international debut in an ODI against South Bangladesh on 11 April 2011. He picked up one wicket, and conceded 39 runs in 7 overs. His performances in the shorter format earned him a place in the squad for the ICC Champions Trophy 2017.

Test Career

Pattinson made his test debut in the same year as his ODI debut on 1 December, playing against New Zealand. He impressed on his debut by picking up New Zealand’s first five wickets in the second innings, finishing with figures of 5 for 27. His haul helped Australia achieve a nine-wicket win. In his debut Test series against New Zealand, Pattinson left an impressive mark after picking two five-wicket hauls in two matches. That earned him the Man of the Series Award. He also featured in the 2013 Ashes series in England but was forced out of the side due to injury. He was back again for the final Test against South Africa at Cape Town in 2014, which Australia won to win a hard fought series 2-1. Lack of fitness also meant that he was never a regular member of the limited overs formats as well.

He went on show his talent by picking up 6 wickets in a Boxing Day test against India in 2011.

He returned to the Australian test team in 2015, again achieving another five-wicket haul against West Indies. He bowled at an immense pace and was one of the few bowlers having the ability to bowl at that constant pace. In 21 Tests, Pattinson has 81 wickets to his name

T20I Career

James made his T20 debut on 13 October 2011. He picked up 1 wicket, and conceded 32 runs in his four overs. His opportunities in the limited overs format has been sporadic ever since as the injuries have plagued his playing career.

Background

Like many cricketers from Down Under, James too started with backyard cricket. James Pattinson is the younger brother of Darren Pattinson, who represented England in a Test match in 2008. Unlike his brother Darren, James was born in Victoria after the family migrated and played there throughout his career.