Australia slap Pattinson with a one-Test ban for ‘personal abuse’

Cricket Australia have suspended fast bowler James Pattinson for player abuse, ruling him out of the first Test against Pakistan. 

The first of two Tests against Pakistan starts this week and skipper Tim Paine said Pattinson had let the team down.

The Victoria seamer was found guilty of breaching Cricket Australia’s code of conduct during a Sheffield Shield game against Queensland last week.

The governing body characterised the incident as “personal abuse of a player while fielding” but there has been no official comment on what was said.

The incident was Pattinson’s third breach in the past 18 months, and therefore triggered a one-match suspension ruling him out of the first Test against Pakistan at the Gabba.

“We have a duty to uphold the highest standards of behaviour and the action taken in this matter demonstrates that,” CA’s head of integrity and security Sean Carroll said in a statement.

News outlets, The Australian and the Sydney Daily Telegraph have alleged that the abuse involved a homophobic slur.

Pattinson’s ban paves the way for Mitchell Starc to return for the Test in Brisbane starting Thursday. Pattinson and Starc were competing for the final bowling slot alongside Josh Hazelwood, Pat Cummins, and Nathan Lyon.

Paine expressed his disappointment in the quick, saying the Australian team has been working hard to win back public support since the ball-tampering scandal at Newlands last year led to long-term bans for Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft.

The skipper told ABC that Pattinson had “let himself down, he’s let the group down”.

“We actually had a chat last night about the fact that we hold ourselves to a really high standard now with our behaviour,” Paine said.

“That’s not just while we’re playing (Test) cricket, we’ve got to go back to domestic cricket and lead the way on that front as well.

“We’re disappointed … but James has owned up and knows he’s made a mistake and has apologised for it and will come back bigger and better.”

Pattinson says he made a mistake

Pattinson admitted to ‘making a mistake’ in the heat of the moment.

“Straight away I realised I was in the wrong, and I apologised immediately, both to the opponent and to the umpires,” he said. 

“I have done the wrong thing and accept the penalty. I’m gutted to miss a Test match, but the standards are there for a reason and the fault is mine.”

CA said no replacement will be called up for the Test squad.