Two-Test player Kurtis Patterson has revealed he still harbours hopes of a recall to the Australian cricket team, and Usman Khawaja’s retirement might make it possible. The 32-year-old played two Tests against Sri Lanka in 2019, scoring 114 not out in his second Test.
But he was dropped when Steve Smith and David Warner returned from the suspensions they earned from the ball-tampering scandal in South Africa in 2018. It meant Patterson was axed despite having a Test average of 144, which comes from scoring 144 runs and only being dismissed once.
Kurtis Patterson has a Test average of 144, but only ever played two matches. Image: Getty
The NSW batter has never reached the same heights again, and was actually dropped by the Blues in the summer of 2023/24. He overcame that setback and put himself into calculations for a Test recall against India last summer, but narrowly missed out.
Now with Khawaja walking away from Test cricket, a spot in the middle order is once again available. Josh Inglis, Matt Renshaw and Nathan McSweeney appear to be the leading candidates, but Patterson can put himself in the frame with a strong finish to the Shield season.
“My motivations for playing are different than what they were, (but) obviously the goal of getting back to playing Test cricket is still absolutely there,” he said this week ahead of his 100th Shield game for NSW. “I think I have tuned in more to finding enjoyment in the other stuff and finding enjoyment in the challenge.”
Kurtis Patterson scored an unbeaten century in his second Test.
(Cricket Australia via Getty Imag)
Patterson played both of his Tests at No.6 in the order, but counts first drop as his best spot. Khawaja opened for the majority of his Test career, but finished up at No.5 after Travis Head proved he can open.
“If that opportunity were to come, I’d grab it with both hands,” Patterson said. “If it was one to six (in the order), no complaining on my end.”
Kurtis Patterson makes Sheffield Shield history
Patterson is just the sixth player in history to play 100 Shield games for NSW, joining Phil Emery, Moises Henriques, Greg Matthews, Geoff Lawson and Peter Nevill. “As a cricketer, you’re always tormented, you always wish there were a few less Shield games and a few more Tests in there,” the left-hander said.
“But I grew up idolising this cricket team and to play 100 games is something I never thought of. I’m really, really proud to be able to tick it off this week.”
Before Thursday, Patterson had 306 runs in six Shield matches this season at an average of 27.81. In 116 first-class matches, he’s amassed 7093 runs at 38.34 with 14 centuries.