James Pattinson ends 'frustrating time' at Nottinghamshire

James Pattinson has bade farewell to his Nottinghamshire team-mates after his second stint of county cricket has come to an end.
James Pattinson picked up injuries during a tough time at Notts.James Pattinson picked up injuries during a tough time at Notts.
James Pattinson picked up injuries during a tough time at Notts.

His departure coincides with the midway point of the Specsavers County Championship season and finds the Trent Bridge side rooted to the foot of the Division One table after seven matches.

The Australian signed off with a devastating match aggregate of eight wickets in the latest outing against Kent at Tunbridge Wells, giving Notts’ supporters a fond reminder of his exploits in 2017.

Two years ago Pattinson was a revelation, taking 32 wickets at an average of 12 runs apiece, from only five championship matches, as well as playing a starring role in the county’s Royal London One-Day Cup success.

This time around it’s been much tougher, for a variety of reasons, for the pace bowler - and for his team.

“I suppose last time we almost had as much success as it was possible to get,” he said. “It was always going to be hard to repeat that. It’s been a bit of a frustrating time, picking up an injury and getting so close to making another Lord’s final.

“We’ve also not had the wins we would have liked in the four-day stuff, so there’s been sort of mixed emotions this time but it’s been great to see the lads again and be back playing for Notts.”

Over the last 24 months there has been a significant turn-over in playing personnel at Notts, something that Pattinson attributes to the slow start to this season.

“Obviously it’s a bit of a different group since the last time I was here,” he remarked. “We’ve had some new faces come in and like with anything, it takes time for people to settle in and work out the best ways of going out there and succeeding.”

Pattinson’s latest stint with the county was bookended by a pair of sensational performances. He claimed figures of six for 73 in the first innings at Tunbridge Wells, after returning to the county with a similarly heroic performance in his return match against Lancashire in April.

On that occasion Pattinson took five for 61 as the Red Rose came within a whisker of chasing down the Outlaws score of 417 for seven.

“It was an astonishing match but it feels a lifetime ago now,” he reflected. “We started really well in that competition, winning the first five games. We had a wash-out and needed to win the last match to top the group and pulled off a really good victory at Northampton.

“All in all, I think we were probably one of the better teams in that tournament,” he said. “But the disappointing thing is it doesn’t matter where you finish in the group if you then go and get knocked out in the next match, It’s just the same feeling to me as if you finished last.”

Having qualified for a home semi-final, Notts hopes of returning to a Lord’s showpiece final were extinguished by eventual winners Somerset.

“I suppose it was probably just one of these things,” he said. “We didn’t get it right on the day. I missed the game through injury, so it was really disappointing not being able to get out there and help the lads.”

The 29-year old now heads off on international duty but it may not be the last that Trent Bridge fans see of the Victorian quick bowler.

“I’ve loved every minute of being back here and hopefully in the not-to-distant future I can be back and playing a part in some success for Notts.”