I deserve punishment, says James Pattinson
13 March 2013 1:30 AM GMT
Paceman James Pattinson on Tuesday said he deserved axing from the side for his disrespectful ways and those who are criticising the decision do not understand the new culture the team is trying to build.Pattinson and three others were dropped for the third Test after they failed to make a presentation on how they can improve their performance, to coach Mickey Arthur. ‘It shows a lack of respect to the coach, the captain as well, and the rest of the team. I know if I was in their position, as a team member, I’d be quite disappointed in them for being a bit selfish,’ Pattinson was quoted as saying by Australian media. Shane Watson had reacted to the punishment by flying back to Australia even as the team management said it should not be linked with his axing as he wanted to be with his wife, who was expecting. Watson even said that he was contemplating his future but Pattinson said what they did was unacceptable.
‘People talk about it as a harsh punishment but looking deeply into it you realise probably it’s not. If you want to be part of the Australian cricket team you have to do everything right. It’s not acceptable. I believe it’s the right punishment,’ the tall paceman added. He said it initially it was difficult for him to digest the sacking but he realised he does not need to make any excuses. ‘You’ve got to do everything right. It wasn’t hard for the other 12 blokes to get it in on time and they took the time out to really reflect and do what’s best for the team whereas us four didn’t. Right now I’m still hurting about it but in the long run I think it’s going to make us a better team,’ he said. A battery of former cricketers including Shane Warne, Michael Vaughan, Dean Jones, Mark Waugh and Steve Waugh have criticised the axing move by Arthur but Pattinson said the times had changed on and off the field. ‘They’re entitled to their opinion and a lot of the players that are saying that were great players and they probably didn’t have to deal with this stuff because they were in a period of time when they were on top of the world really,’ he said.
‘People talk about it as a harsh punishment but looking deeply into it you realise probably it’s not. If you want to be part of the Australian cricket team you have to do everything right. It’s not acceptable. I believe it’s the right punishment,’ the tall paceman added. He said it initially it was difficult for him to digest the sacking but he realised he does not need to make any excuses. ‘You’ve got to do everything right. It wasn’t hard for the other 12 blokes to get it in on time and they took the time out to really reflect and do what’s best for the team whereas us four didn’t. Right now I’m still hurting about it but in the long run I think it’s going to make us a better team,’ he said. A battery of former cricketers including Shane Warne, Michael Vaughan, Dean Jones, Mark Waugh and Steve Waugh have criticised the axing move by Arthur but Pattinson said the times had changed on and off the field. ‘They’re entitled to their opinion and a lot of the players that are saying that were great players and they probably didn’t have to deal with this stuff because they were in a period of time when they were on top of the world really,’ he said.
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