A late call-up for the two Tests against Sri Lanka in early 2019 after a flurry of centuries in all manner of matches, Patterson scored 114 not out in the second Test after Joe Burns (180) and Travis Head (161) had already cashed in. Burns and Head are also now out of the Test team.
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Patterson went to England in 2019 as part of an extended Ashes squad but missed the final cut after a low-scoring practice match and then suffered a lingering quad strain the following summer.
Recently appointed Sheffield Shield captain, replacing veteran Peter Nevill, Patterson admits his focus last season was too much on trying to regain his Test place and not enough on the next ball, which proved entirely counter-productive. He averaged just 21 in the Shield for NSW.
By the end of his first home summer of Test cricket, Handscomb was in the remarkable position of having not been dismissed below 50 in any of his first seven innings – the first player in Test history to have achieved that feat.
“The last couple of years out of the set-up I’m obviously trying to improve and get better. I got found out a bit at that next level. That happens,” Handscomb said. “I’m only 30. Hopefully I’ve got six or seven years left. I hope it hasn’t passed me by. I’ve still got dreams and aspirations to play for Australia.”
An increasingly troubled soul at NSW when he played three Tests without making an impact, Maddinson, 29, averaged more than 80 in his first two Shield seasons for Victoria before a more modest 31 last summer.
“He’s been unbelievable since he’s come to us,” Handscomb said. “His stats are ridiculous.”
Squads
NSW: Daniel Hughes, Mathew Gilkes, Kurtis Patterson (c), Jason Sangha, Jack Edwards, Sean Abbott, Peter Nevill, Trent Copeland, Nathan Lyon, Harry Conway, Tanveer Sangha. Liam Hatcher, Lachlan Hearne.
Victoria: Marcus Harris, Nic Maddinson, Peter Handscomb (c), James Seymour, Matt Short, Sam Harper, Jonathan Merlo, Will Sutherland, Scott Boland, Mitch Perry, Jon Holland. Wil Parker, Sam Elliott.
Final XIs named at the toss.
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Ashes lure for ex-Test quartet Sheffield Shield opener
Source: Philippines Alive
