Kurtis Patterson LIVE: NSW Captain eyes Australian Test comeback & talks One Day Cup Final + Is there an Aussie Batting Crisis? - 10/03/26

0:00With the domestic season nearing the pointy end, Australia's batting pitcher looks no clearer. Welcome to Domesticated, I'm Justin Edwards, Foxcrickets, Nick Savage is alongside me, Nick. Jason Sanger, well done to hear me, was the only century maker of the entire round. Have we got a bit of a batting crisis going on in Australia? There's a low scoring round, wasn't most of the games wrapping up in two and a bit days, two hundreds become a past score? There's probably a few different factors in play, but I wouldn't call it a crisis at this stage, although there are probably a couple of spots on that test side up for grabs, and no one's really taking an opportunity just yet. Does it feel like that? There was a chance in these matches for someone to grab a test spot. We've talked about how we think there's only three of the top seven nailed in for those bangled-edge tests, so if someone goes with these three shield rounds and got three hundreds, the selectors may as well freeze a bit of baggy green to them out on the pitch, but it doesn't seem to be happening for the batsman at the moment. To be fair, Sam Harper got a 90-odd back up his 200s in the previous round, so he's looking superb. He probably wasn't really in test contention a few months ago,

1:01but after that big bash and this shield form, he's put himself in the equation somewhat, but no, certainly it's been very low scoring, and a lot of the names that we've spoken about in the past, Jake Weatherall missed this round, which was obviously really poor timing for him, as he's trying to fight for that test spot to keep it after the Asher series. I was speaking at Curtis Patterson later. He has had a great summer, but didn't nail it this week, either, so yeah, it just hasn't been, it's been a season for the ballers, I suppose. The last few weeks have been very same-friendly, and even Mitch Swiftson taking a 7-fer in the one-day cup recently as well, so just a chance for the balls to shine, I guess. The last few weeks, especially, only six centuries since Christmas, since the big bash break, so that's nine matches. Six hundreds in nine matches is we expect more from that from our ballers, from our batsman, and I've done some more numbers. There have been 32 centuries so far this season, with a full round and the final, of course, to come. Compared that to last year, last year's season finished with 50 hundreds. That was a lot considering the three seasons before, or 44, 39, and 42.

2:07So around the 40 mark, I don't think we're going to get to the 40 mark this year, but then I had a look, because everyone tells me, oh, the batsman are the same as they were 20 years ago, so I had a look at the corresponding seasons 20 years ago, oh, 506, there were 55 centuries, oh, 405, 61, and oh, 304, 76. Now, I'm not in the camp of people who will tell you, oh, the batsman were just so much better than. I'm not in that camp, and you tell me that all the bowlers are so much better now than they were back then. I don't believe that, but I think there is a circumstances have been created, where centuries are harder to get, which can be a good thing, because you can put greater value on the century makers, but in terms of just actually grinding them out and having guys finish with a thousand runs in a shield season, it doesn't seem to be happening anymore, and I wonder whether that's a good thing, whether we've created an environment that's actually too difficult for the batsman now, and it might be more replicate, it might replicate better some test wickets,

3:08where that are finishing in two days in Australia, but you know, we had a national series where only it was Smith's head and Kerry were the only ones that got hundreds. Yes, they won four one, but I wonder if the shield system at the moment is just not quite where we need it to be, it's perhaps going too far the other direction, and it's too helpful for bowlers. I think you make an important point where the low scores have also translated to test cricket. We've seen the last four or five years, a lot of short test matches, low scoring test matches, the top three for Australia in that period have struggled consistently, consistently, with the exception of Travis Head this summer, and I suppose if you look at the conditions that have been presented, the big one is obviously the ball change. I think it was in 2021 that the Cookebara out of the extra layer of lacquered to the ball is a more pronounced seam, it's somewhat replicating the conditions we see in the UK a little bit more. We've also now have pink ball shield games back over the last couple of seasons, which obviously isn't going to have lower scoring baller-friendly conditions again, so I think it's actually really good thing because it's starting to replicate what we've seen the test arena more because it's low scoring test matches,

4:12the top three have been struggling. We want to see people in similar conditions working hard to get through that tough period and then hopefully translating the 20s and 30s into bigger scores. That's what the national selectors are looking for and we just need a couple of players to do so and step up. It is a good point you make with the conditions. I also think the new points format in the Sheffield shield has an impact. It used to be that first innings points were so important, so teams, if the 10 batting first got 600, or the 10 batting second just had to go out and get 601. Now with the bonus point system, it's not quite as simple as that, but you are getting far more low totals. So 21 times this season, a team's been bowled out for under 180. And you compare that to only nine times has there been a 400 plus score. I would think that should be a little closer to even. That's heavily in favour of the bowlers, especially been bowled out for 180. That's a poor score. And then you add that Tasmania bowled out for 91 in this round by Victoria.

5:14And Queensland was 6 for 44 against WA. They got saved by the rain. I wonder, yeah, the point system has done good things. It has made the games more exciting. I think maybe on the pitch, some of the pitches we've seen, especially at the GABA, have been these green seamers. And maybe we going into South Africa in October and Bangladesh in August, we'll go look at the head to the ashes. Those wickets are flat now in England. Maybe we need next summer, some flatter wickets might be a little bit. I think in the whole, the pitches across Australia have been okay, I think it's fair to say, but they have obviously been some glaring issues. At shield level, there have been a couple pitches that just haven't been up to scratch. And then obviously the MCG Boxing Day test map page has just got that wrong. And fortunately, it happens. Everyone's allowed to make mistakes, just as cricketers make mistakes. Curators are allowed to occasionally make mistakes as well. I think you make a good point about the ashes. They are not going to be spicy decks over in the UK. We know the basketball formula now. It's been reported on to death. We know they're going to be flat

6:15wickets that are badding. And we saw where it fails is in Australia when the decks had a bid in them. Spot on. Spot on. So you make a fair point. Next summer is at the time to slightly shift it back in the other direction. We saw in this shield a generation ago way too high scoring, perhaps, was that the quality of the badding or the conditions, probably a mix of both. I think it's fair to say. Maybe next summer for the curators need to slightly adjust their grass length, some of the soils. Have a little think during the off season about the best way to go about it because yeah, it has been very low scoring and it's difficult for national selectors to kind of judge where the next crop of talent is coming. One man that is scoring runs despite the difficult conditions is Sam Harper. He's moved to be the chef who's shield equal leading run scorer this season. Alongside Pete Hanskippen, they got 640 runs each. 93 against Tasmania after his twin tons against WA. A year ago, if you said Sam Harper's in test contention, nonsense. You'd be laughed out of the room. But you look at him now. The spot that he's in is not dissimilar to where Jake Weatherworld was a

7:17year ago. The chef who's shield leading run scorer, a couple of hundreds, moved up to opening and he's doing it in a similar way that Weatherworld was better than a runner ball. Is it ridiculous to say that Sam Harper is in test contention? Not ridiculous at all. We even saw just this recent national series. Josh Englis was picked as a special spatter even though his primary school was Wiki Keeper. And there is that spot there. Weatherworld hasn't performed this summer as the national selectors would have liked. There's every chance he could take that off if the form continues. I guess the issue that's perhaps stopping him is Australia already has an aggressive swashbuckling opener in Travis Head. Do they want two people playing that same role? It's something we've spoken about before in regards to Jake Weatherworld. Are they the best suit, Travis Head and Weatherworld or Sam Harper? Or do they need someone who can soak up the pressure a bit more, a coirger style player, a wrench or style player? I think back to Chris Rogers and David Warner as Australia's best opening partnership in a generation because they had that perfect correspondence with each

8:18other. They supported each other. One counter punched, one could battle or day if needed. So that's the one thing maybe stopping Sam Harper. Just the style of player that he is. But we're scoring 100 every week, it doesn't matter. Yeah, if you put so many runs on the board and make yourself resistible, they'll find a way to fit you in. Nathan McKench is one that's been in wickets regularly for South Australia and they're in contention for the final. Six for 55, we got against New South Wales and we said Harper is in a similar spot to Weatherworld. I think McCandry might be in a similar spot to where Brendan Doggit was a month ago. When he got 12 months ago, sorry, he got in the test team. Could that be something for Nathan McCandry in the future? I know there's a lot of depth in fast bowling but they have to use them in the Asher Summer. I think they use six quicks again. So you do have to bat a little bit deeper when it comes to the quicks. We'll think about how many fastballs have followed that same route as Doggit. Just recently, it was Michael Nisa making his debut in his 30s. Scott Bond made his debut in his 30s and at least the last couple have played huge roles in that Asher series and they still could continue

9:20playing test cricket for a couple of years. McCandry, I don't know if he's aged in front of me, he's got to be in it. 32. He's got plenty of years ahead of him, you think about it. So every chance that he could play a similar role to those guys, someone I think was maybe Angiomic Lashin from Crick Info, who compared him to Scott Bond. Consistently performing at domestic level could be called upon at a horses for courses selection at any stage. We've spoken to death about all these test matches coming up for Australia. I think there's 20 tests in the space of about 10 months. Yes, they're going to need a lot of quicks. Fastballing depth is going to be so important and with all the young guys injured at the moment, Nathan McCandry is putting forward a pretty good case. And some of the old guys injured as well. Hazelwood Cummins, they're going to need it. We'd let's touch on the actual Sheffield shield. It's coming down to the last round for that second spot in the final. Victoria will be there, they'll be hosting it. It's going to be between South Australia and Queensland to see who meets them. We mentioned before that Queensland, they dodged a bullet with the rain there. They're on the verge of a pretty heavy defeat, but they get that extra crucial point. Now, I think it's actually all in South Australia's hands because if they win this upcoming game against Victoria in Melbourne, that's tough, but if they win it

10:24through in that final, a pretty simple equation. But if they lose or even draw the game against Victoria, that does open the door for Queensland, who can sneak above them if they get a bonus points victory in their game against Tasmania in Hobart. So, we've spoke of the bonus point system. They're going to have to be scoring runs quickly and taking wickets early in this upcoming game against Tasmania, because they need to do that and win and hope that South Australia trip at the final hole for them to get in that final. But it's all in the redbacks favourite at the moment. They've got that lead on the ladder. We'll just have to wait and see what happens over the next week or so. It is interesting for South Australia. It's sort of a you beat the champ to earn the right to face the champ. They've got to beat Victoria in Victoria to earn the right to play Victoria in the final. It's an fascinating dynamic and you could pull there's lots of themes and strings that you could pull on that in the lead up. That's the Sheffield Shield final. The one-day cup final is coming up and coming up here. We'll be speaking to New South Wales captain Curtis Patterson. On the eve of the one-day cup final, we're very pleased to be joined by New South Wales captain

11:25Curtis Patterson. Curtis, thanks so much for joining us. Thanks out of me. So, it's unfortunate, of course, that Jack Edwards is not going to be out there with the hamstring injury. But the exciting part is that you get to captain your state in a one-day cup final. That must be exciting. Yeah, bang on. It's always a pleasure to captain this group and you always want to play in big games and playing final. So, yeah, nice to be captaining and nice to be downing and tazzy playing for a title. Chatting off air just before there's obviously the little bit of threat of rain around in Hobart. If the match was reduced to a 2025 over a fair, do you think that works in the team's favour? Do you think it's the firepower to dominate in a short game? Yeah, I mean, we've got some really solid white ball players. So, you know, you want to play a full 50 over game. We've played some really good 50 over cricket over the last couple years. So, hopefully the range stays away. But, you know, one thing I think we do really well on this

12:27team is we adapt well. We've got some really solid T20 players who have played in some big games. So, we'll go as we'll go with what we're given tomorrow and give it a red hot crack. Your 50 over form at the moment, Curtis, is extraordinary. You've scored 229 runs since the last time you got out in this competition. What have you put your strong form down to in this format? It's a good question. I think starting the tournament off with runs always helps. You know, you're not chasing your tail if you can get off to a good start and you can kind of relax and just get into your work. So, I think that helped starting with that. And I think I've just, I've found a nice rhythm. So, I think my one day about it and I probably haven't had in the past. And always been somewhat consistent in getting starts, but never really gone on in school and be 100. So, it's been nice to rectify that in a way this year and score some 100. So, been nice to get one more tomorrow night and put the team into good position. But, I don't think

13:29there's one big answer. I think feeling relaxed, being still and having just general confidence in my game has helped the season. And just casting your mind back to the final game of the pools and this competition. Obviously, the Blues needed to chase that target within 40 overs. And, I mean, you were a big part in that, but what was the discussions like during the innings break? And what was the approach the team took into that run chase? Because it was a pretty unique situation and you guys nailed it. That's a really good point. Answering a question was quite frantic at the break. We had analysts back in Sydney figuring out the net run rate. So, I hope and everyone throwing out their opinion before we actually knew what the number was and eventually before the opening went out we got it down to 40 overs. So, we touched on it after the game actually around how can we as a group and as individuals get that clarity with the battle ball and hand without needing a target on a certain amount of overs. So, we knew we had to maximize the powerplay. We knew that was going to be our best chance to win the game. And, yeah, we went

14:33out there and executed, which is always the most important thing. So, we chatted about it. I think there was some really good ideas shed off of that last game and, yeah, we'll look to bring that clarity tomorrow. You made your way into the one-to-cup final where you'll play Tasmania, live on Fox Sports and KO, of course. Add one player that won't be out there is Adam Zampar. He's quite selflessly put himself aside to ensure TNV is saying a very selfless move from Adam wasn't it to ensure that young TNV is saying we'll get a game having played so well in this tournament so far. Yeah, spot on. You know, there was obviously a few very rules that play in that scenario and yeah, it's hard when you're turning down Adam Zampar in a big game like a final, but I think I read an article this morning. I think our boss Greg Mell hit the nail on the head that there's there's always a balance with these things and TNV is statistically being the best baller in the competition this year. And, yeah, I think the decision was probably right that it's just not

15:33quite a two leg spinners kind of ground in a day and night game here. I think potentially a day game changes that but being a day and night game that was that was a decision that was made and yeah, I'm looking forward to TNV going out there and continuing his run that he said all year. And this is obviously going to be the second last game with coach Greg Shippard in charge of the side is the fact that this could be a last for after him. This is the chance to finish his tenure with the state on a high. Some added motivation for the players. Yeah, I think that's it. I think it's there's just an extra layer of motivation if you need it. Frankly, I don't think many guys will need it going into it going into a final and you know, we didn't play well on the previous shield game. We've had an extra day of rest so there's none of those excuses floating around. Shippard's given his heart and soul to us for the last couple of years so it'd be a really nice treat for all of us to send him off for the win. Not just in one day cricket in the last two years, Curtis, but also in shield cricket, you've been one of the best perform players in the entire competition. You've got the highest shield score by anybody this year, 173 not out. What have you put your form down to

16:39the last two years? It really seems like batting has clicked for you in a way that it wasn't the few years prior. Yeah, I mean, look, the line in the sand was drawn for me when I was when I was dropped and I said at the time that I needed that line to be drawn and sometimes it's really hard to do it when you're constantly trying to figure things out and kind of grind through, grind through shield cricket. It's not the place to figure areas of your game out that need to be figured out. You need to need to step away and for me it was placing club cricket, get back into the rhythm of scoring hundreds with my club side and just as simple as it sounds, just figure out the things that I was doing poorly and there was a few little bat habits that had crept into my game and was able to rectify those and felt like I came back with a clean hair, a bit of a clean slate and some newfound confidence in my game. So it's been nice to get some runs. I

17:40would have liked a few more, particularly in the shield season, but I think that's the game. You're never satisfied as a batter in this sport, but yeah, it's been really pleasing personally to have the performances that I guess I've had over the last couple of seasons. You said ahead of your 100th Sheffield Shield game recently that while you're proud of everything you've achieved, a few more test matches would have been nice. How strong is that motivation to put yourself back in contention, especially with potentially maybe a couple spots opening up in the top of the Australian order ahead of next summer? Yeah, the motivations it's there. That was I guess part of that process whatever was 18 months ago when I had some time to think through why I was playing and what my motivations were and doing everything I can to get back in that Australian side was a big one. So I look, I think it's an exciting time for any first class batters out there at the moment. There's a lot of test cricket coming up over this next 18 months. Obviously, osman's were tired, so there's a spot there and like always, I think

18:43it's scoring runs at the right time and scoring runs this back end of the season when there's finals on and the business end of the season is always a good thing to be doing. So the motivations there, it's strong, but it is in the background. While we're here with New South Wales, there's no point in thinking about that other stuff until it actually comes up. So both me and the team we're really excited to get out there tomorrow night. Your two test matches were all the way back in 2019. So it's quite a long time ago. Do you feel like your better place now if you were to get that opportunity at national level to be able to perform, even though you performed pretty strongly in your two tests? Yeah, I mean, I'm certainly, I'm playing my best cricket that I've played at the moment. There's no doubt about that. You know, I will say back when I was selected. That was in one of those red purple patches you get in your career when, you know, I think I was coming off for 400s in the previous month. So I was certainly picked at the right time and it was nice to,

19:45get that test under my belt early on, but I'm more mature. I've got a more complete game now. So, and I've got the confidence that I guess I've done it in the past when I was selected. So got to put runs on the board, got to score more red ball runs, that's for sure. And I'll be looking forward to taking that opportunity if it does come. And no doubt there would have been a lot of disappointment in the Blues camp last week, failing to make that Shepherd Shield final, but is it a bit of a bit of a sweet feeling seeing a cup of your former teammates and Jason Stanger and Nathan McGandrew doing so well for their adopted state? It must be a bit of a weird feeling for yourself seeing them flourish in the red back squad. Yeah, not something I'll give that much thought to, to be honest. You know, I mean, I guess McGandrew left a while ago and he's a top five ball in the country for me. He's incredibly consistent, has fantastic skills. And Jason's probably a different one. I'm a bit closer with saying and

20:47that period when I was dropped, he was out of the side too. And we spent a lot of time together, probably trying to achieve similar things in our games and trying to figure a few things out. And Qto's to him, he's done it. He's figured it out. He's got back to that Australia A level and performed there too. And I mean, there was no doubt, I think, even the powers, the big, freaking New South Wales, they're saying how to have a lot of ability. He showed us at a young age. He just, whatever reason, wasn't able to define it here in New South Wales. So, really happy for him that he's having that success. And he's playing, you know, playing his best cricket with South Australia at the moment. He certainly is. And I think you are too, as well, Curtis. The one-day cup final in New South Wales and Tasmania live on Fox Sports and KO. Thanks so much for joining us, Curtis. Good luck for that match. And of course, the rest of the season with New South Wales. Thanks guys. Appreciate it. Cheers.