Kurtis Patterson has added another chapter to his meteoric rise from grade cricketer to Ashes candidate, peeling off a 113-ball century during Tuesday’s One-Day Cup season opener in Sydney.
The New South Welshman cracked a 125-ball 110 during the 50-over contest against Tasmania at Cricket Central, hitting ten boundaries for the hosts, who were bowled out for 224 at 49.4 overs. Dropped by Tigers captain Beau Webster on 36, he combined with Blues veteran Moises Henriques for a 104-run partnership for the fourth wicket before falling victim to Tasmanian debutant Nikhil Chaudhary in the 45th over, caught and bowled.
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Twelve months ago, Patterson was playing grade cricket for St George having lost his spot in the state’s Sheffield Shield side and the New South Wales captaincy. The left-hander, who played two Tests for Australia in 2019, was axed from the Blues side in late 2023 after compiling 1090 runs at 24.77 across four seasons in the Sheffield Shield, later admitting he deserved to be dropped.
However, Patterson earned a recall in November last year and made the most of his second life in the state side, smacking 743 runs at 57.15 with five fifties and a hundred. Despite missing selection for the first two rounds, he finished last summer’s Sheffield Shield as the fourth-leading run-scorer, topping the charts for New South Wales.
After hitting a career-best 167 against Western Australia at the SCG, Patterson notched another hundred against the touring English Lions in January, facing the likes of Test bowlers Shaoib Bashir and Josh Tongue.
Last week, the 32-year-old slapped a match-winning 126 not out in a pre-season match against Victoria in Sydney.
“Once you get your feet moving and you have some clarity of mind, that tends to lean into good-quality cricket,” Blues coach Greg Shipperd said of Patterson’s recent form.
“He’s in a great space with his batting. There’s no reason for him not to continue his spectacular form this season.”
National selectors have hinted that Sheffield Shield performances will help determine Australia’s top-order for the blockbuster Ashes campaign, which gets underway in later November.
Sam Konstas’ struggles during the recent West Indies tour have created a potential vacancy at opener, while there’s lingering uncertainty about whether Cameron Green is best suited to the No. 3 position.
Patterson could put himself firmly in the mix for an Ashes call-up if he gets his Sheffield Shield campaign off to a flying start, although the likes of Marnus Labuschagne and Nathan McSweeney will also be pressing their case for a recall.
Despite batting predominantly at No. 3 for New South Wales last summer, Shipperd declared that Patterson would have no problem opening the batting if required.
“When you’re batting at No. 3, you could be in at 1-0, so essentially you can do that job,” he explained.
“He’s of a character where certainly that wouldn’t throw him astray.”
Asked whether he thought Patterson, who averages 144 with the bat in Tests, should be considered for Ashes selection, Shipperd responded: “Absolutely.”
“All that noise has been if you’re scoring runs, you’re a real chance. If he’s doing that, then why not?
“He’s very mature, very balanced, and he certainly won’t be overawed by the occasion.”
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