Former Australian representative Kurtis Patterson has fallen agonisingly short of a century in his long-awaited Sheffield Shield return, dismissed for 91 on day one of New South Wales’ match against Queensland at Cricket Central.
The 31-year-old, who played two Tests against Sri Lanka in 2019, was dropped from the Blues’ Sheffield Shield in October last year after a form slump with the bat, albeit retaining his state contract for the 2024/25 season.
“I probably haven’t said it publicly, but I think I needed to be dropped when I was last year, because I just frankly wasn’t batting well enough,” Patterson told reporters at stumps.
“Sometimes you really do need that line in the sand, to be able to go back and really review what you’re doing well and what you’re not doing well.”
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With teenage opener Sam Konstas and Test star Steve Smith unavailable for this week’s match due to Australia A and ODI commitments respectively, a vacancy opened in the NSW starting XI for Patterson’s return.
“Got the call three days before the game, just at training,” continued Patterson, who has been peeling off plenty of runs with St George in Premier Cricket this summer.
“I knew I was there or thereabouts with Steve opting out of playing.
“I’d be lying if I said that thought never crossed my mind, whether I would get another go back here, but thankfully I’ve ticked all the boxes with St George and got my opportunity today.
“Now that I’m back playing, I just really want to win games for New South Wales.”
After winning the toss and choosing to bat first, the Blues were in early trouble at 4-26 when Bulls seamer and Under-19 World Cup champion Tom Straker ripped through the top order.
Following the early carnage, Patterson and NSW all-rounder Jack Edwards revived the innings with a 135-run partnership for the sixth wicket, steering the hosts towards a respectable 239 all out.
However, Patterson’s innings ended in controversial fashion, given out caught behind in the 54th over while facing part-time spinner Angus Lovell. The left-hander threw his head back in disbelief after the umpire raised the finger, indicating he didn’t believe there was any bat involved.
“It’s great to be back and scoring some runs,” Patterson said.
“I’ve made some improvements in that side of my game since getting dropped, my thinking patterns and all those sorts of things. Today I felt like I was in my own little bubble for the majority of my innings.
“I was just glad to be able to put a few runs on the board.”
Edwards also missed out on triple figures, given out caught behind for 88 after feathering a delivery from Queensland leg-spinner Mitchell Swepson through to wicketkeeper Jimmy Peirson. Straker finished with career-best figures of 3-69, while Lovell, who had never previously taken a first-class wicket, claimed 3-13.
In response, the Bulls were 0-36 at stumps on day one, still trailing by 203 runs, with openers Matthew Renshaw (14*) and Usman Khawaja (19*) unbeaten overnight.
Elsewhere in the Sheffield Shield, Tasmania was 7-302 at stumps on day one of their clash against reigning champions Western Australia at Bellerive Oval, with Mitchell Owen and Caleb Jewell notching fifties for the hosts. Left-armed quick Joel Paris was the pick of the bowlers with 4-38 from 21 overs.
Meanwhile at Adelaide Oval, South Australia posted 9-286 against Victoria after opener Henry Hunt and all-rounder Liam Scott scored half-centuries, with veteran seamer Peter Siddle taking 3-44 from 18 overs.
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