Australia's new fast bowling star James Pattinson continued his meteoric rise with a man-of-the-match all-round performance in the first Test thrashing of India.
Pattinson, just 21, has made a huge impression in his three Tests this season and picked up his second man-of-the-match award with six for 108 and two unbeaten knocks of 18 and 37.
In three Tests, the youngster from Victoria has captured 16 wickets and impressed with his resolute batting at No. 9.
Pattinson said he also placed a heavy emphasis on his batting to consolidate his place in the Australian team amid a fast bowling injury crisis.
“Nowadays, the way cricket's going, you need to be able to bat towards the end,” he said.
“You've seen so many valuable partnerships from the last two in many games of cricket, so it's something that I put a big emphasis on in the nets and practising trying to get as many runs as I can for the team, because it does help.”
Good stand
Pattinson and Ben Hilfenhaus frustrated India's efforts to wrap up the Australian second innings with a last-wicket stand of 43, which only made India's winning chances even more difficult.
“It does put the game back in our sort of favour and their opening batsmen didn't really want to be stuck out there too much longer, which they did,” Pattinson said.
“It was big for us and it's just good that I can help out with the bat.”
