Australia speedster James Pattinson is set to beat Michael Neser and Peter Siddle to make a place for himself in the starting XI against New Zealand on Boxing Day, head coach Justin Langer all but confirmed. According to the former opener, a ‘hungry’ Pattinson would be exciting to watch on his home soil at MCG.
Josh Hazlewood, who scalped a wicket off his first and only over in the Perth Test, watched his side beat fierce rivals New Zealand by 296 runs. The medium-pacer was ruled out of the Boxing Day Test at Melbourne later, owing to a hamstring strain. That only meant either Pattinson, who featured in two Ashes tests earlier this year upon making an international comeback, Neser, and Siddle would be drafted into the line-up.
Langer earlier included Siddle in the 13-man squad ahead of the second Test as well, but cleared the air on the selection dilemma by expressing his excitement on a potential Pattinson return.
Speaking to 6PR earlier today, he conceded, “I am really looking forward to seeing Patto [Pattinson] bowl and bowl well in this Boxing Day Test, which is his home ground as well.”
Reflecting on the man-management and the situation further, Langer mentioned, “James Pattinson was 12th man in the last game and I hope what I have shown in the last 18 months is that we have been really consistent in our selection. He’s been unlucky, he only played a couple of Tests in the Ashes and he is so hungry like Mitchell Starc. The way he has come back from playing (two) Tests in the Ashes has just been brilliant.”
Pattinson, much to the delight of the team, loves plying his trade against the Black Caps. The fast bowler has 14 wickets in just two Test appearances against them, and he’d be hopeful of adding a few more to that tally as well as taking the burden of Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins.
The second Test, with the series on the line, is slated to commence on December 26 at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground.
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