Australia put faith in injury-hit pace bowler James Pattinson
Wednesday 9 December 2015 08:45, UK
Australia captain Steve Smith believes James Pattinson will deliver the "X-factor" to the team as he prepares to make his return to Test cricket in the first Test against West Indies.
Pattinson has struggled with injuries and played the last of his 13 Tests against South Africa in March 2014.
But he has been selected ahead of Nathan Coulter-Nile as the replacement for Mitchell Starc, who is out with a stress fracture in his foot.
Pattinson will join Josh Hazlewood - man-of-the-match in the Adelaide day-night Test against New Zealand - and Peter Siddle in the new-ball attack, backed up by all-rounder Mitch Marsh, for the match which starts in Hobart on Thursday.
"Patto's a quality bowler. He bowls at 150kph (93 mph) when he's got everything together," said Smith.
"So he brings that kind of X-factor to the team. He's got a lot of aggression he's not afraid to show, which I think is a great attribute.
"He just needs to go out and do what he does well. He is similar to Hazlewood the way he bowls.
"Hopefully those two can lead the attack well and he can have a successful comeback into the Australian team."
The first Test in Tasmania represents a fresh start for Pattinson, who has recovered from chronic back and hamstring problems to force his way back into the side.
Western Australia paceman Coulter-Nile was included in the initial 12-man squad despite not playing any domestic Sheffield Shield matches so far this summer because of a shoulder injury, sparking criticism.
But Smith defended the decision and insisted he will feature during the series.
"He's been working extremely hard. He's bowling extremely fast. I was facing him in the nets over the last couple of days," Smith added.
"I'm not worried about him. I am sure he's going to be around the squad this summer and he'll get an opportunity to play at some point."
As for Australia's opponents, Smith was keen to stress they will not take the West Indies' threat lightly, despite their defeat to a rookie Cricket Australia XI by 10 wickets in Brisbane last weekend.
"We want to win this series 3-0. I wouldn't read too much in the way the tour match went for the West Indies," he said.
"The West Indies have some quality bowlers in their attack, led by Jerome Taylor.
"I think he's a great fast bowler so we can't take them lightly and we have to play each ball on its merits and hopefully get a big first innings score and set the match up."
Australia's seven-run defeat to New Zealand four years ago is the home team's only defeat in 11 Tests played at Hobart's Bellerive ground.
The Windies lost their only Hobart Test match by nine wickets 10 years ago after being bowled out for 149.
Live Test Cricket
Australia - David Warner, Joe Burns, Steve Smith (capt), Adam Voges, Shaun Marsh, Mitch Marsh, Peter Nevill, Peter Siddle, Josh Hazlewood, James Pattinson, Nathan Lyon
12th man: Nathan Coulter-Nile
Watch the first Test between Australia and West Indies. Coverage begins on Sky Sports 2 at 11:30pm on Wednesday.
