Pattinson soaks up lessons from Bumrah, Boult in IPL

James Pattinson's escape from the depths of Melbourne's coronavirus lockdown was as productive as it was unexpected, with a call from Mahela Jayawardene leading to IPL glory and Jasprit Bumrah masterclasses.

Mumbai Indians coach Jayawardene contacted Pattinson in late August regarding the prospect of being a last-minute replacement for veteran Lasith Malinga.

Pattinson, who went unsold in the IPL auction, sensed the Sri Lankan legend would pick someone else but awoke the next morning to a text message containing a formal offer.

A few days later he flew out to the UAE.

Pattinson made his IPL debut in the tournament opener then played a further nine games under Rohit Sharma's captaincy as Mumbai stormed to their fifth IPL title.

The Victorian, who will warm up for the four-match Vodafone Test Series against India by playing for Australia A in a tour game that begins in Sydney on Sunday, described the life-changing stretch as surreal.

The chance to swap notes with Mumbai pace aces Bumrah and Trent Boult was among many highlights.

Awe-struck Pattinson got to know Bumrah better, gaining an understanding of the express paceman's wizardry and work ethic as he took down IPL rivals and prepared to terrorise Australia's batsmen.

"'Boom' (Bumrah) is one of the best, if not the best, T20 bowler in the world," Pattinson told AAP.

"And he's a fantastic guy.

Image Id: 4BCE90A7A523472F9DD88C6CBCB88FB1 Image Caption: Pattinson claimed 11 wickets in his 10 IPL matches // BCCI/IPL

"The biggest thing was just how much he loves talking about cricket ... and he was happy to share a lot of information around his bowling mindset.

"He bowls a lot more than I thought he would at training. He just bowls and bowls and bowls ... you see how switched on he is."

Bumrah's unique technique belies the speed he generates.

The 26-year-old's approach to the crease is a by-product of a lack of space in the communal area of his family home in Ahmedabad.

Bumrah's trademark yorker was honed inside his home, when he targeted the one spot that wouldn't make noise and wake up his sleeping mother.

"You watch him bowl and just think 'how does he do that!?'," Pattinson said.

"I picked his brain. I was asking about his yorkers and how he gets them so good; he likes to bowl from a higher position and a few other things."

Pattinson, an incumbent member of Australia's Test XI, believes it is a good lesson in not tinkering with bowling actions for the sake of the textbook. 

"It's fantastic," the right-armer said. "He's got an unusual action, been allowed to keep doing that and it's what makes him successful."

Studying New Zealand gun Boult was also predictably beneficial for Pattinson, who this summer signed on to return to the Melbourne Renegades for the KFC BBL and remains hopeful of returning to Australia's T20 or ODI side for the first time since 2015.

"I lucked out a bit going to Mumbai, the most successful franchise in IPL history," Pattinson said.

"It all happened so quickly. It was such a great experience and surprise.

"It ignited a spark to play more white-ball cricket ... to try and get back into Australia's white-ball teams."

Fixtures

December 6-8: Australia A v India A, Drummoyne Oval, 10.30am AEDT (5am IST)

December 11-13: Australia A v Indians, SCG (day-night), 2.30pm AEDT (9am IST)

Both games will carry official first-class status

How can I watch?

Attendance at the games isn’t possible due to COVID19 limitations, but some good news red-ball cricket lovers – you've got bulk options to check out the action. Cricket.com.au and the CA Live app will be carrying a free live stream of every ball of the action from both Australia A matches, available in most territories worldwide, including right here in Australia.

Foxtel and Kayo will also be broadcasting the match in Australia while viewers in India can watch on Sony Pictures Sports Network. A full list of global broadcast details is at the bottom of this story.

Cricket.com.au and the CA Live app will also have extended highlights, live scores, replays of every wicket and all the latest news from each day.

Who will be commentating?

For the first match, between Australia A and India A on December 6-8, your commentary will come from Fox Cricket’s Mel Jones, Brad Haddin, Kerry O’Keeffe, Brendon Julian and Adam Peacock.

For the second match, the day-night clash at the SCG between the full-strength India Test side and Australia A, commentary will come from Brendon Julian, Allan Border, Kerry O’Keeffe and Adam Peacock.

Squads

Australia A (first game): Joe Burns, Will Pucovski, Marcus Harris, Travis Head (c), Cameron Green, Nic Maddinson, Tim Paine (wk), Michael Neser, James Pattinson, Jackson Bird, Mark Steketee, Harry Conway, Will Sutherland

India Test squad: Virat Kohli (c) (first Test only), Ajinkya Rahane (vice-captain), Rohit Sharma, Mayank Agarwal, Prithvi Shaw, KL Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Hanuma Vihari, Shubman Gill, Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Rishabh Pant (wk), Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav, Navdeep Saini, Kuldeep Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Mohammed Siraj

India Test squad not involved in the T20s: Prithvi Shaw, Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Hanuma Vihari, Rishabh Pant, Wriddhiman Saha, Ravichandran Ashwin, Kuldeep Yadav, Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Siraj

International broadcasters

ATN (Canada)

BT Sport (United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland, Channel Islands, Isle of Man)

Fox Sports Asia (Brunei, Cambodia, China,  Guam, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Laos, Macao, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, New Caledonia, Philippines, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Timor-Leste (East Timor), Vietnam)

SportsMax (Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, Aruba, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Bonaire, British Virgin Islands, The Cayman Islands, Cuba, Curacao, Dominican Replublic, Dominica, Estatius, Grench Guiana, Grenada, Guadaloupe, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Martinique, Monserrat, Netherlands Antilles, Saba, Saint Barthelemy, Saint Eustatius, Saint Martin, Sint Maarten, St Kitts, St Lucia, St Martin, St Nevis, St Vincent, Suriname, Trinidad & Tobago, Turks & Caicos)

SkyNZ (New Zealand)

Sony Pictures Sports Network (Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Burma, India, Mauritius, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka)

SuperSport (South Africa)

WillowTV (USA, American Samoa, Northern Marianas, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands).

Vodafone Test Series v India 2020-21

Australia Test squad: Tim Paine (c), Sean Abbott, Joe Burns, Pat Cummins, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Michael Neser, James Pattinson, Will Pucovski, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Swepson, Matthew Wade, David Warner

India Test squad: Virat Kohli (c) (first Test only), Ajinkya Rahane (vice-captain), Rohit Sharma, Mayank Agarwal, Prithvi Shaw, KL Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Hanuma Vihari, Shubman Gill, Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Rishabh Pant (wk), Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav, Navdeep Saini, Kuldeep Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Mohammed Siraj

First Test: December 17-21, Adelaide Oval, 3pm AEDT (day-night)

Second Test: December 26-30, MCG, 10.30am AEDT

Third Test: January 7-11, SCG, 10.30am AEDT

Fourth Test: January 15-19, Gabba, 11am AEDT