CUMMINS’ PRAISE FOR PATTINSON

If anyone knows the kind of hell James Pattinson has been through in the past four years, it’s fellow fast bowler Pat Cummins.

Pattinson celebrated his home Test return with figures of 3-34 in the first innings at the MCG and took three wickets in his first spell in the second yesterday to leave the Kiwis reeling. He finished with 3-35.

He was playing in just his third Boxing Day Test and first since 2015.

In the time since, Pattinson’s body has almost seemed cursed.

He struggled with back issues and even required surgery, before being struck down by a side strain last summer.

The 29-year-old finally returned with five wickets in two Tests in the Ashes, before this week getting his first Test back on home soil since 2015-16.

Cummins, of course, went down a similar path after his debut. He missed five-and-ahalf years of Test cricket and also had to play the patient game before becoming the world’s No.1 bowler.

“It’s a pretty long time frame between surgery and not only getting back but then Test cricket. You’ve got to be able to bowl 50 overs in a week,” Cummins said. “The patience he has shown, along with Cricket Victoria, he has had to say no to some Shield games to manage his loads.

“(But) this was always his goal to get back to Test cricket.

“He has done that, and he is right at the top of his game.

“When you speak to guys playing Shield or County cricket, they speak of him as though he is one of the best bowlers in the world.”

Pattinson had Tom Latham caught behind yesterday before the key scalps of Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor followed in the space of five balls.