Pacer Pattinson out of Ashes, adds to Australia’s 0-2 woes
Fast bowler James Pattinson has been ruled out of the remaining three Ashes Tests against England because of a back injury, compounding Australia’s dreadful start to the series.
Cricket Australia released a statement on Tuesday saying that Pattinson reported hip and back soreness on the last day of the second Ashes Test, which England won by 347 runs on Sunday with a day to spare to take a 2-0 lead in the series.
CA team doctor Peter Brukner said scans identified an early stage low back stress fracture for Pattinson, who “will commence a rehabilitation program with the aim to have him back for the Australian summer.”
The 23-year-old Pattinson took five wickets as Australia lost by 14 runs in the first Test. He was less successful in the second match, taking only two wickets. A raw and aggressive right-arm bowler, Pattinson has taken 47 wickets in 12 Tests at an average of 26 and is considered a long-term option as the Australians rebuild their bowling stocks.
Coach Darren lehmann now has the option to recall left-arm quick Mitchell Starc, who was dropped for the second Test to make room for swing bowler Ryan Harris, or bring Jackson Bird or James Faulkner into the starting XI. The Australians lost the first Test by 14 runs and have now notched up six consecutive Test defeats, their worst losing streak since 1984. Michael Clarke’s side would equal Australia’s worst ever string of Test losses with a seventh straight defeat at Manchester starting August 1.
With limited options to revamp the team and a severely underperforming batting top order, the Australians face the very real prospect of leaving England after the five-match Ashes series with its worst ever Test losing streak.
‘Spinners give you run-scoring opportunities’ Usman Khawaja has no qualms about attempting his terrible get-out shot again, only next time he will try and hit it for six.
The elegant left hander was a significant part of Australia’s first innings capitulation at lord’s, skying a drive against spinner Graeme Swann to be caught for 14 as Australia were bowled out for a paltry 128 in good batting conditions.
Playing his first Test for more than 18 months in place of Ed Cowan, Khawaja attempted to right the wrong in the second innings, batting for almost three hours to top-score with 54 as Australia went down by an embarrassing 347 runs.
“I definitely felt more comfortable in the second innings,” Khawaja said. “The first innings wasn’t my best executed shot. I sort of went half at it. If I tried to hit it for a massive six it probably would have gone for four. “That’s how it goes. I learnt first innings and wasn’t going to give my wicket away second innings.”
Nor is he going to let Swann dictate terms, even if England is preparing dry and dusty pitches for their classy off-spinner and to blunt Australia’s pace attack.
“I do love taking on the spinners,” he said. “They present a lot of run-scoring opportunities too. Obviously the wicket changed from the first innings to the second.
“That’s what you have to do in cricket. You have to tweak your game plan here and there. If the opportunity presents itself again it doesn’t mean I’m not there to take on the bowlers.
“I’ll just hopefully try to do it better next time and be a lot smarter about it.”
“We understand how important first innings runs are, especially if you’re batting second in a game. That’s where you win cricket games,” Khawaja said.
“We’re not making any excuses. We’re not saying it’s good enough either. All we can do is go out there and apply our skills the best we can and try and take a bit of the onus on ourselves as batsmen in the top six to put our hands up. There hasn’t been a hundred scored on tour and that’s got to be our first goal,” he added.