Right: Cranbourne East young gun James Pattinson has been named in the 2008-09 Victorian Bushrangers’ squad.By Marc McGowan
THE announcement of the 2008-09 Victorian Bushrangers’ squad was a low-key event, however it was anything but for Cranbourne East fast-bowling star James Pattinson.
The 18-year-old has long been regarded as one of the state’s – if not the country’s – top prospects, but that status was confirmed last week when he was given a full Bushrangers’ contract.
Pattinson, who grew up in Endeavour Hills, was on a rookie state contract last season and his fightback from a debilitating back injury has clearly endeared him to selectors.
“It’s all happened pretty quickly. I just turned 18 (last month), I’ve got my licence now and then this happened, so it’s definitely been a growing up period,” he said.
“I’m yet to play a game and yet to really prove myself, so it was a bit of a shock really.”
Victorian head coach Greg Shipperd has high hopes for Pattinson’s future.
“James is obviously an exciting young prospect as a fast bowler and is giving every indication in the long term that he’ll be a very good player for Victoria,” he said.
“We also think there is potential – if things went his way – of him playing at the highest possible level.
“He’s been floating around the system for a while and we have a very tight connection with our under-17 and under-19 teams and he’s been a standout in both of those.”
Pattinson, who represented Australia at this year’s Under-19 World Cup in Malaysia, joins 29-year-old brother Darren and Dandenong Panthers’ teammates Peter Siddle, Kumar Sarna and Brett Forsyth in the Victorian team.
English-born Narre Warren South resident Darren has also attracted plenty of attention in the off-season playing county cricket for Nottinghamshire.
Darren’s impressive early season performances even had had some pundits touting him as a potential England Test player, but Pattinson junior laughed off the speculation.
“He’s doing very well for himself and it’s good to see him come on at a late age and do so well,” he said.
“The England Test talk was quite funny actually – I think everyone else blew it out of proportion.
“I haven’t really spoken to him about it, but if an offer comes along to play Test cricket you don’t pass it up.”
Having his name alongside his older brother in the state side provided a huge thrill for Pattinson, but he said there is much work ahead to establish himself.
“I still need to earn respect from each teammate and do the right things and not take it for granted because I’m still a youngster,” he said.
“I’m no older or wiser because of this; I still have to prove myself to them.”
Pattinson recently made the decision to leave Haileybury College, where he was a scholarship holder, to complete his VCE studies at Holmesglen TAFE.
The budding all-rounder now expects to have more time to devote to improving his cricket.
“The World Cup put me behind a lot at school and I had so much to catch up on and I weighed up my options and thought this was the best thing for me,” Pattinson said.
“After my back injuries last year, I’ve really been working hard and it’s very exciting.
“I’m expected to be at training more often now whereas as a rookie you only had to be there two times a week.”
Picture: Meagan Rogers. 19573
