James Pattinson, the Australia paceman, believes fast bowlers will eventually have to pick and stick with a format if they are to keep injuries at bay.
Pattinson, 28, has been plagued by injuries so far – in November last year, he underwent surgery after suffering yet another stress fracture in his vertebrae, and is now on the comeback trail having gradually started bowling in the nets again.
Pattinson had impressed in the Sheffield Shield and the County Championship last year, and speaking about his workload, said he “pretty much got it right last time”.
However, faced with the possibility of playing Test cricket again in Australia’s two-match series in Bangladesh, he kept at it, and the workload proved too much for his troublesome back.
Australia, in their ongoing limited-overs series in England, are missing three of their frontline pacemen, with all of Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood sidelined by injuries.
“You see our three quicks who have had a pretty big summer and they’ve succumbed to that, so it’s really hard,” said Pattinson. “It’s just about being smart about when there’s opportunities to have a bit of a rest – feet up and go again, rather than just trying to go all year round.”
As for his own comeback, Pattinson was cautious. “I never doubt my ability in getting back there – obviously it’s just the history with injuries,” he said. “That’s the thing, whether I can get back. It’s pretty hard, Test cricket bowling.
“Whether my body allows me, I will be doing everything I possibly can to get back there.”
