James Pattinson Announces Retirement From Test Cricket

Australia's fast bowler, James Pattinson, has announced his retirement from Test cricket ahead of the Ashes. The 31-year-old has been struggling with a knee injury on the eve of the Test summer and lost motivation to get himself up for another campaign, says a report in The Australian.

Pattinson's decade-long test career has been filled with injuries and stress fractures. He only managed to play 21 tests and took 81 wickets at an average of 26.3. Pattinson has over 300 first-class wickets as well. 

He recently flagged his intentions to step down from the national team if he wasn’t picked, saying he wanted to relax and enjoy domestic cricket.

“The hardest part as you get older is that you want to try an enjoy your cricket as well,” he told Cricket Australia’s website recently. “You put all your attention into playing cricket for Australia and at some stage, that finishes.

“This year is a big one for me if I can crack in and try and get an opportunity at the Test level. If not then I probably wouldn’t mind just looking to try and enjoy my cricket somewhere towards the back-end of my career.

“I’m going into it pretty relaxed and trying to say ‘you’re having one last crack at trying to play Test cricket and get a good run at it’. I’d just like to play consistent cricket, wherever it may be.”

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With Pattinson not available, selectors will be looking at Michael Neser and Shaun Abbott to mix with Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, and Josh Hazlewood ahead of the Ashes, which will begin in December.