Australia's Pattinson to return home after abuse ban

Published November 18, 2019
Fast bowler James Pattinson has left the Australia camp in Brisbane and will return to his home state Victoria in the wake of his one-Test ban for personal abuse of an opponent. — AFP via Deccan Chronicle
Fast bowler James Pattinson has left the Australia camp in Brisbane and will return to his home state Victoria in the wake of his one-Test ban for personal abuse of an opponent. — AFP via Deccan Chronicle

Fast bowler James Pattinson has left the Australia camp in Brisbane and will return to his home state Victoria in the wake of his one-Test ban for personal abuse of an opponent.

Pattinson was handed the ban when he admitted abusing a Queensland player during a domestic match last week.

He had been vying with Mitchell Starc for the third pace-bowling spot in the Australia side for the first Test against Pakistan, which starts in Brisbane on Thursday.

Cricket Australia (CA) said Pattinson had been given a couple of days' leave to rest with family and would then return to his Victoria base to prepare for the second and final test against Pakistan in Adelaide from November 29.

The decision had been made during a regular meeting of team management late on Sunday and was considered the best course of preparation for the 29-year-old bowler, a CA spokesman said.

The spokesman denied local media reports that said the decision was made for "player welfare" reasons.

Australia have cracked down on bad behaviour by their players since the ball-tampering scandal in South Africa in early 2018 that led to one-year bans for then captain Steve Smith and vice-captain David Warner.

Current captain Tim Paine told state radio on Sunday that Pattinson knew he had "let himself down (and) let the group down". His Australia and Victoria team mate Peter Siddle backed Pattinson to regain his place in the Test side.

"It's an emotional game and sometimes you go a bit too far [...] but its because you care," the veteran seamer told local media.

"He's not trying to do anything stupid, he just cares about the team and wants to get results. He's got to miss this Test and that will hurt him."

Opinion

Editorial

Business concerns
Updated 26 Apr, 2024

Business concerns

There is no doubt that these issues are impeding a positive business clime, which is required to boost private investment and economic growth.
Musical chairs
26 Apr, 2024

Musical chairs

THE petitioners are quite helpless. Yet again, they are being expected to wait while the bench supposed to hear...
Global arms race
26 Apr, 2024

Global arms race

THE figure is staggering. According to the annual report of Sweden-based think tank Stockholm International Peace...
Digital growth
Updated 25 Apr, 2024

Digital growth

Democratising digital development will catalyse a rapid, if not immediate, improvement in human development indicators for the underserved segments of the Pakistani citizenry.
Nikah rights
25 Apr, 2024

Nikah rights

THE Supreme Court recently delivered a judgement championing the rights of women within a marriage. The ruling...
Campus crackdowns
25 Apr, 2024

Campus crackdowns

WHILE most Western governments have either been gladly facilitating Israel’s genocidal war in Gaza, or meekly...