Ashes 2019: Tim Paine sheds light on James Pattinson’s exclusion for the Lord’s Test

James Pattinson, the Australian fast bowler, has had to face a number of injury concerns over the last few years of his career. Owing to the frequent injuries, he has never been a part of the national team on a consistent basis. The 29-year-old speedster recently made a comeback for the ongoing Ashes after a gap of more than three and a half years and played the first game at the Edgbaston.

He bowled with fire, though he could only manage a couple of wickets. Pattinson also contributed with an unbeaten 47 in the second innings, which turned out to be a useful one. Despite his good show, the pacer didn’t find a place in the 12-man squad for the second Test at the Lord’s. Speaking on the matter, Tim Paine, the Aussie skipper, said that he was left out for managing his workload.

James Pattinson is available for selection, says Tim Paine

“I think what we’ve done in the past with James is got him back, we know how good he is so we keep using him and keep bowling him and eventually he’s broken again,” Paine was quoted as saying in cricket.com.au ahead of all the all-important Lord’s Test.

Back injuries and side strain have turned out to be massive detriments in Pattinson’s journey. One of Mitchell Starc and Jos Hazlewood, both of whom wasn’t a part of the eleven for the Birmingham Test, is likely to take Pattinson’s place.

“We’re really lucky in the fact we’ve got two bowlers (Starc and Hazlewood) in particular on the sidelines that are world-class and we want to make sure James is absolutely cherry ripe every time he plays. He’s available for selection but we’ve decided to rest him for this game and make sure that his long-term future is in really good shape,” Paine stated.

In the meantime, Paine also indicated that Pattinson could be selected for the third Test against England at the Headingley in Leeds. “It was always going to be one way or the other – (Pattinson) would miss this Test and be fresher for the third Test or he has this one after the long break and doesn’t play in the third,” Paine added.

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