By Adrian Meredith
VICTORIA, Australia
(TheSportsNext) August 7, 2012: Following the Under 19 matches, I happened
to notice an Australian batsman by the name of Kurtis Patterson.
I noticed him because he top scored in a match against
Pakistan Under 19s where he scored 83, virtually the only score above 20 in a
match that Pakistan dominated.
That kind of performance really stands out. It shows the
kind of character of a player that does well under pressure. Someone who would
cope well under international pressure. This was what Michael Clarke was like
at the Under 19 level. And Mitchell Marsh too for that matter. Not to mention
Brett Lee.
He then failed in the next match but the match later he
again top scored, this time to win the match against the same Pakistan Under 19
side that had flogged them. In a close match, he had shown the kind of
temperament to win a match virtually off his own bat.
I looked back through his scores and, while he has failed a
few times, suggesting that he needs to work on giving away his wicket too
early, he also scored very well on many occasions. He seemed to be averaging
around 40-50 in Under 19 international level, in one day matches. He was easily
the best of the Australian Under 19 batsmen, so far above the others that it
was like he was in another league.
I looked at his profile and he has actually made his first
class debut. He scored 157 and 6 not out, top scoring and then scoring the
winning runs in the 2nd innings. It was a fairly easy win but just the same to
score over 150 on his first class debut was impressive. The other team, Western
Australia, fought back too, but his presence kept them in the hunt.
He has only played the 1 FC match so has the Bradman-esque
average of 163.00. Actually, it isn't just Bradman-esque, it is much better
than Bradman managed. It makes Bradman look like a part timer.
His Under 19 form seems to more correctly reflect his
potential though. He has averaged 40-50.
If he were to be put into the Australian test team right
now, with the troubles we have had with batting, he would be a very good chance
to do well. It might be too early but quite frankly it might not. We have been
experimenting with young bowlers with very little experience so why not
experiment with a young batsman? Kurtis Patterson is the one to go for if they
were to do that.
It may not be quite the right time to show Ponting the door
but I think that if we can find a way in for this guy, we should do it. There
is no point waiting too long on him. He could well be ready right now.
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