Will not be intimidated by Sachin: Pattinson

Rookie Australian pacer James Pattinson has immense respect for Indian batting icons Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid but insisted that he will not be intimidated by their reputation in the Test series starting here from December 26.

“You respect them really well from who they are what they have done, but come game day you can’t be intimidated, you’ve got to be intimidating,” Pattinson said.

“So even though I’ve only played two Tests I think I can do that, I can come with aggression, the same as ‘Sids’ (team-mate Peter Siddle), and we can lead the attack. It was great to get some performances in my first two Tests to sort of get them thinking about me as well as Sids,” he said.

Pattinson admitted that bowling against the experienced Indian top order would be a big challenge but said that with age catching up the visiting stalwarts, he can account for them in the Test series.

“It’s going to be a pretty big challenge, (but) you know, they’re starting to get a bit older now, so I might hopefully have them at the right time,” said Pattinson, who collected five-wicket hauls in each of his first two Tests.

Rather than attacking the Indians with short-pitched bowling, Pattinson said he would stick to the formula that has brought him success so far.

“Pitching it up and swinging the ball in the right areas is pretty good especially with their batting line-up, they’ve got a lot of right-handers so you’re going to have to bowl that way,” he said.

“You say they don’t like the bouncer but a lot of people could take that the wrong way and bowl them all the time, it’s bowling your bouncer at the right time and it has to be a good one,” Pattinson added.

He said he has spoken to England bowling coach David Saker, previously of Victoria, to understand the techniques of the Indian batsmen, after the England attack orchestrated a 4-0 series win at home this year.