Australia coach Mickey Arthur expects James Pattinson to figure in the
later stages of the Commonwealth Bank triangular ODI series.
The 21-year-old fast bowler impressed in the first two Tests against
India with 11 wickets at 23.36 but was forced to miss action
subsequently because of a foot injury.
Pattinson, though, is recovering well. Arthur revealed that the fast
bowler bowled at the nets before the ODI in Melbourne. “Pattinson, we
might see at the back of the ODI tri-series,” Arthur said.
The Australian coach, however, did not think another injured young
paceman Pat Cummins, would be able to make the ODI series. “We, perhaps,
won't see Cummins until the tour of the West Indies,” he said.
Watson making progress
Key all-rounder Shane Watson, Arthur felt, was making good progress from
his fitness concerns. “He is getting his body to the point where we
want him to be. We do not want to put any time-frame on his return. I am
in regular touch with him and he's a valuable player for us.”
Arthur said, “He should be playing in grade cricket soon and we could
take things forward from there. At some stage, he'll bat down the order
and bowl for us.”
Indeed, Arthur felt Watson opening the innings might not enable
Australia make the most of his all-round ability. “It's about where best
it fits us and where best it fits for him. He might be doing a fair bit
of bowling for us and Michael Clarke has used him wisely. Whether he
can sustain that level of bowling and continue to open the batting,
that's the question.”
The Australian coach was pleased with Shaun Marsh, desperately out of
form in international cricket, finding some runs with a 79 for Western
Australia against Queensland in a Shield game recently. “That's the way
for him, making plenty of runs in Shield cricket rather than playing in
the ODIs.”
The reserve batsman in the ODI squad, Peter Forrest, Arthur said, would
feature in the Australian side sometime during the tri-series. “We need
to take a look at him before the tour of the West Indies,” he said.
Coach backs Haddin
Arthur also backed out-of-form wicketkeeper-batsman Brad Haddin. “I
think he did okay in the Test series against India. He could have got a
few more runs but the middle-order made big runs and he did not always
get an opportunity.”
In the same breath, the Aussie coach added, “It's good to see Wadey
(Matthew Wade) pushing him. But we should be taking two 'keepers to the
West Indies anyway. It will be a nice internal battle between them. I am
looking forward to seeing who comes up trumps.”
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