Kurtis knows run drill
BEN HORNE KURTIS Patterson went within a whisker of becoming part of Australia’s new-look Test XI this summer, but he wasn’t kicking stones when the call didn’t come.
The emerging NSW prospect knows he must find a way to begin converting the regular starts he gets at Sheffield Shield level into big hundreds, with yesterday’s 88 against Queensland at the SCG case in point.
Blues teammate Nic Maddinson ultimately edged out Patterson for the vacant No.6 position in the Australian batting line-up back in November, but the 23-year-old is under no illusions as to why he hasn’t got a crack then or since.
Captain Moises Henriques yesterday showed the way for NSW, who finished 4-328 at stumps on day one, with a sensational unbeaten hundred scored in scorching conditions coming after the home side were left reeling at 2-2 in the first over.
Patterson has made several 50s this summer but knows opportunities will come his way if he can do like Henriques (102 not out) and convert into triple figure scores.
“I was fine (with non-selection) then and still am now. I know that I need to convert these 60s and 80s into 100s, that’s pretty simple,” said Patterson.
“For me, I just need to keep doing what I’m doing to get to these points that I am in getting starts but just be able to learn from it every time and convert those starts into hundreds and big hundreds.
“I didn’t have any conversation (with selectors), but as a batter that doesn’t bowl it’s pretty simple. I’ve just got to try and score as many runs and big runs as possible.”
Patterson described his innings in the Sydney humidity as arguably the toughest conditions he had encountered in his career. Daniel Hughes and Ed Cowan both fell for ducks in the first over.
Fourth-placed NSW are desperate for victory against third-placed Queensland. MITCHELL Swepson has vowed not to be intimidated by the aura of Virat Kohli, declaring he will attack the batting powerhouse if handed an opportunity in India.
No one in world cricket has yet worked out how to undo Kohli on home soil, but Swepson knows one thing, and that is you can’t afford to fall at the feet of the Indian master.
Australia’s rookie leg-spinner has heeded the advice of Brisbane Heat teammate Samuel Badree that too many bowlers are guilty of being reverential to Kohli.
Swepson has been turning heads with ripping leg-breaks on Australia’s training boot camp in Dubai and says he won’t fall into the trap of being intimidated by India’s batsmen.
“Especially as a leg-spinner you’ve got to look to be aggressive and take wickets. It doesn’t matter who you come up against,” Swepson said.
“You’re a leg-spinner and you’re going to get hit for runs. So at the time you’ve got to be the wicket-taker and you’ve got to get the breakthrough the team needs.”
Swepson heads to India full of confidence after a strong performance in Dubai, which featured taking out David Warner’s middle stump with an exceptional ball.