Quantcast

Pattinson injures left hamstring

Bushrangers quick pulls up sore midway through fourth day of Shield final

James Pattinson has suffered a slight left hamstring issue bowling for Victoria in the Bupa Sheffield Shield final in Hobart.

Pattinson aborted the final ball of the sixth over prior to tea, grabbing the top of his left leg before taking his cap from the umpire and leaving the field immediately.

The right-armer will not bowl for the remainder of day four and will be reassessed by Cricket Victoria medical staff tomorrow morning.

If required, Pattinson will be available to bat.

"He’s going to be assessed tomorrow morning," said Victoria coach Greg Shipperd. "I’m sure and confident he’ll be able to bat again.

"I don’t think there’s going to be too much more bowling required, even though the way they’re scoring 350-plus is a pretty good target. 

"That’s obviously over to WA to make their call on when they think they’ve got enough runs and enough overs to do their business."

The problem area is the same hamstring the 24-year-old injured in Victoria’s Shield clash against Tasmania late last month in Alice Springs.

Scans later revealed a grade one strain, ruling him out of the Bushrangers’ final two four-day matches before being declared fit for the Shield final last week.

Pattinson has played just three first-class matches since the Cape Town Test in South Africa 12 months ago.

Following a back injury suffered in that match, he remodelled his action with Australia fast-bowling coach Craig McDermott and Cricket Victoria high performance manager Tim McCaskill.

Cricket Australia General Manager Team Performance Pat Howard said on February 3 that Pattinson’s return from injury had been carefully planned in the best interest of all parties.

"By making that gradual return to red-ball cricket it should allow him to work his way back into the longer form of the game without overloading his body and that approach should benefit James, Cricket Victoria and the Australian team in the long term," Howard told cricket.com.au.

The 13-Test paceman has gone wicket-less in the Shield final, conceding 0-131 from 31.5 overs in the match.