James Pattinson is rapidly making a name for himself in Victorian cricket circles.James Pattinson (left) is set to make his debut in the top-flight competition of Victorian Premier Cricket alongside his older brother Darren.By Marc McGowan
ENDEAVOUR Hills teenager James Pattinson is fast-tracking his way to cricket notoriety, with his bowling skills set to send shockwaves through Victorian Premier Cricket circles this season.
Pattinson, 16, has played for Dandenong Cricket Club for the past two seasons, but is expected to step up to the premier grade when the Panthers travel to Geelong Cricket Ground for the opening round of competition on October 7.
“Hopefully I’ll be playing the first game there,” he said. “If I get the opportunity I’ll be a bit nervous.”
Pattinson’s 27-year-old brother, Darren, is already a permanent fixture in the elite Dandenong side and has been his biggest inspiration to his cricket career.
“I wanted to grow up to be like him,” he said. “He’s been really good. He tells me how he did, and what to expect.”
Darren, who opens the bowling for Dandenong, is looking forward to having his brother alongside him.
“He’s pretty level-headed and pretty focused on what he wants to do,” he said. “He’s pretty good, he’s going to be a bit better than me.”
He may end up eclipsing his older brother’s achievements, but it is Darren’s bowling action – and not champions like Brett Lee – that Pattinson has attempted to emulate.
While Pattinson does idolise Lee, he is keen to carve his own niche in Australian cricket and is well on his way.
“You look at them, but you don’t want to specifically be like them,” he said.
On top of his anticipated elevation to the senior ranks at Dandenong, he received a scholarship to Haileybury College at the beginning of 2005 and was also inducted into the Victorian Institute of Sport program late last year.
He has just completed a pre-season tour with the VIS in Queensland, where he came up against local district competition and the Australian under-18 side.
Pattinson returned just in time to display his all-round sporting talent in Doveton’s under-18 grand final loss to Beaconsfield in the Casey Cardinia Football League on Saturday.
“I didn’t have much time to think about it. I just got there and played,” he said.
“We’ve done a fair bit of work, so it was pretty disappointing.”
It is his cricketing talent that is putting him on the map, though, and he may have played his final Australian Rules football match.
“I might give footy up next year. I’ll just have to see how cricket goes. If the training gets too heavy, then that will be it for footy,” he said.
Pattinson’s training at the VIS has allowed him to develop a strong bond with Victorian and Dandenong fast bowler Peter Siddle, who offers him plenty of advice.
“He just tells me to train how I play and not to take any shortcuts,” he said.
“He also tells me to listen to what people say.”
Pattinson is finding it a bit intimidating being surrounded by the likes of former stars Merv Hughes, Damien Fleming and Darren Berry, but he enthusiastically soaks up their cricketing wisdom.
“It’s really good to be around them, you feel like you’re getting ahead of other people,” he said.
“It has made me feel ready to take on bigger things in cricket.”
He is not alone in those thoughts, with his coaches at the VIS raving about his potential.
VIS assistant coach and former Victorian and Tasmanian bowling all-rounder Ben Oliver described Pattinson as very athletic, with a technically correct action.
“But from my perspective, it is his X-factor that stands him apart,” he said.
“He is certainly someone held in high regard, not just in Victoria, but all over Australia. He gets extra bounce created from his height and extra pace from his athleticism.
“From the bowlers I’ve seen, he has something that gets you excited.”
Victorian Premier Cricket batsmen had better be alert – there is a new star in town.
