Triple treat call-up key
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 his innings of 88 against Queensland at the SCG yesterday a 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 late 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 after just 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 the nonselection) then and still am now. I know that I need to convert these 60s and 80s into 100s, that’s pretty simple,” Patterson said.
“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 who doesn’t bowl it’s pretty simple. I’ve just got to try to score as many runs, and big runs, as possible.”
Patterson described his innings in the Sydney humidity as arguably the toughest conditions he’s encountered in his career.
Opener Daniel Hughes and No.3 Ed Cowan both fell for ducks in the first over.
Fourth-placed NSW are desperate for victory against third-placed Queensland, as the Sheffield Shield heads towards the business end of the season.
IT was the bowlers who were the winners at Adelaide Oval yesterday as 15 wickets fell on the opening day of the top-of the-table Sheffield Shield clash between South Australia and Victoria.
Shield leaders Victoria were bowled out for a meagre 184 but the home side faced an even more-dire outcome after crashing to 5-80 in a chaotic final session.
TEENAGE paceman Cameron Green only packed one pair of white trousers for his trip to Hobart, expecting to be No.13 on Western Australia’s team list.
Instead the 17-year-old made his Shield debut at Bellerive Oval and took 5-24 from his 8.1 overs, helping to dismiss Tasmania for 198.
“I’ve only got one pair of long white pants so I’ll have to find another pair,” Green said.
In reply, the Warriors were 1-149 at stumps.