Former Australia Test bowler James Pattinson, who is playing for Victoria in the ongoing Sheffield-Shield threw a very dangerous ball that hit New South Wales batter, Daniel Hughes. Pattinson picked up the ball on follow-through and hurled it straight back at Hughes after a frustrating phase of play. The red cherry went on to hit the batter on his feet and left him limping on one foot.
Though Pattinson immediately apologised by raising his hands, it was termed dangerous by the match referee and therefore the bowler has been suspended for one match.
Hughes, who was the only NSW batter standing in between Victoria and a win on the final day of the four-day game with his solid 89, had frustrated the Victorian attack with his staunch resistance. However, NSW lost the match by a huge margin of 174 runs.
In a statement released on Wednesday morning, Cricket Australia said, "Pattinson was charged and found guilty under Article 2.7 of the Code for throwing a ball at or near a player in an inappropriate and/or dangerous manner during a match.”
"Pattinson was fined 100 per cent of his match fee for the Marsh Sheffield Shield match between Victoria and NSW held on November 5-8, 2021,” it added.
Along with the match fee penalty, the 31-year-old who recently retired from international cricket was also suspended for the day-night Marsh One-Day Cup match against NSW at the MCG on Friday.