Pattinson to ‘miss’ first Test for code of conduct breach

SYDNEY, Nov 17, (AP): Fast bowler James Pattinson will miss the first Test against Pakistan from Thursday after choosing not to contest a charge of breaching Cricket Australia’s code of conduct during a domestic Sheffield Shield match.

Pattinson faced a Level 2 charge of using obscene or abusive language over an incident in a fourday match last week between Victoria and Queensland at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

News Corp reported Pattinson abused Queensland batsman Cameron Gannon on the second day of the match but immediately apologized to the player and match officials.

The code of conduct bans the use of “language or gesture(s) that is seriously

Pattinson

obscene, seriously offensive or of a seriously insulting nature to another player or player support personnel or any other third person during a match.”

“I made a mistake in the heat of the moment,” Pattinson said. “Straight away I realized I was in the wrong and I apologized immediately, both to the opponent and to the umpires.

“I have done the wrong thing and accept the penalty. “I’m gutted to miss a Test match but the standards are there for a reason and the fault is mine.”

In deciding not to contest the charge, Pattinson effectively pleaded guilty and faced a ban of one Test match or two Sheffield Shield matches. He decided to serve the suspension in the upcoming Test match at Brisbane in which he was competing with Mitchell Starc for a place in the Australia team.

Pattinson faced two Level 1 charges in March which resulted in a warning and a fine of 100 percent of his match fee. Under the code of conduct three offences within an 18-month period can result in a one-year ban.