The Australian fast bowler James Pattinson has announced his retirement from international cricket at just 31 years of age which has come as a big surprise, not just for Australian fans, but for fans all around the world.
James Pattinson was a part of the Australian set up in the last Ashes series in England and was expected to play a big part for the Kangaroos in the home Ashes again, which is starting in a couple of months’ time. This sudden retirement announcement from him has raised a few eyebrows.
Pattinson, who was a typical hustling Australian fast bowler, played 21 test matches in the baggy green and grabbed 81 test wickets at an average of 26.33.
James Pattinson could have established himself in the Australian test team this summer
At a time when Mitchell Starc has not quite fulfiled the expectations as a test match bowler in the last few seasons, Pattinson had a chance to establish himself in the Australian test team for the next 3-4 years. But, now after his retirement, Australia will have to rely on Starc again to form the pace trio with Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood in the upcoming Ashes.
Pattinson said in his retirement statement that Ashes was on his mind when he started training in the pre season, but he doesn’t think he has had the kind of preparation that is required for an Ashes series. He doesn’t want to go into an event as big as Ashes without being 100% prepared.
According to Pattinson, he doesn’t have a number of years left in his cricketing career. Whatever years he has left in him, he would rather spend it in the domestic circuit of Australia and England and try and help in the development of young cricketers.
“I felt that instead of trying to play at the very highest level, knowing I have only got three or four years of cricket left, I would focus more on Victoria, helping the young guys develop, perhaps some cricket in England and spending more time with my family,” Pattinson said in his retirement statement.
Cricket fans have since been reacting on twitter, paying tribute to Pattinson for his contributions to Australian cricket and test cricket in general. Here are some of the tweets –
.@cricketaus fast bowler James Pattinson has announced his retirement effective immediately. https://t.co/gYFVWBqbT0 @7cricket #7NEWS pic.twitter.com/s5ief7Xeka
Advertisement— 7NEWS Adelaide (@7NewsAdelaide) October 20, 2021
Can't help thinking that if James Pattinson had played the fifth Ashes Test in 2019, Australia would have come away with the series win. As good as any when he was fit and injury-free. Sadly, that was not often enough. Great bowler to watch.
Advertisement— Greg Baum (@GregBaum) October 20, 2021
James Pattinson would be a prominent name among the pacers who would have attained unquestioned greatness if injuries had not shorten their careers. In the league of Ian Bishop and Shane Bond. Happy retirement. @cricketcomau @CricketAus
Advertisement— Navneet Mundhra (@navneet_mundhra) October 20, 2021
Talk of returning to play cricket in England in James Pattinson’s international retirement statement spells bad news for batsmen in Division Two…
Advertisement— Ali Martin (@Cricket_Ali) October 20, 2021
Great shame about James Pattinson. Special bowler. County batters will be quaking in their boots
Advertisement— Will Macpherson (@willis_macp) October 20, 2021
Hearing James Pattinson has pulled the pin on Test cricket. First reaction – we never saw the best of him there. Competing for a place with Starc, Cummins and Hazlewood didn't help.
Advertisement— Ric Finlay (@RicFinlay) October 20, 2021
James Pattinson calling time on Tests is a real shame. Absolutely rapid, great competitor and a lot of fun to watch. Very unlucky with injuries and to be around in a great era of Australian quicks otherwise he’d have played a lot more. https://t.co/zYBPxhfQMY
Advertisement— Pitched Up Cricket (@PitchingItUp) October 20, 2021
James Pattinson retiring from Test cricket is not great news. At 31, you’d say he still had a few more rapid spells left in him at the highest level. But @collinsadam, this does mean we’re one step closer to #NeserMustPlay https://t.co/sSWcF0uoXx
Advertisement— Bharat Sundaresan (@beastieboy07) October 20, 2021
Always a tinge of sadness when an athlete retires, particularly when they've been held back by injury like James Pattinson. Finishes with 81 wickets at 26 from 21 Tests but had the ability to take 200+. Had an outswinger which belied old-school fast bowler's snarl.
Advertisement— Andrew Wu (@wutube) October 20, 2021
A few James Pattinson stats…
AdvertisementAmong the 50 Australians to have taken 80-plus Test wickets, only Spofforth (44.5) & Cummins (47.1) have a strike-rate superior to Pattinson's 48.9 https://t.co/KfQp2d89cw
— Adam Burnett (@AdamBurnett09) October 20, 2021
James Pattinson, great bowler but his celebrations are in the hall of fame.
— Drew Jones (@DrewJonesFOX) October 20, 2021
