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I have to be intimidating: Pattinson
Rookie pacer James Pattinson has immense respect for the likes of Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid but says that he will not be intimidated by the reputation of the star visiting batsmen in the Test series starting, in Melbourne, on 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 a barrage of short-pitched bowling, Pattinson said he would stick with 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.
Pattinson will emulate Anderson's approach
"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," he added.
He said he has spoken to England bowling coach David Saker, previously of Victoria, to unpick the techniques of the Indian batsmen, after the England attack orchestrated a 4-0 series win at home this year.
In particular, he said he will try to emulate the approach of England's lead paceman and swing bowler James Anderson.
"I have spoken to David Saker quite a bit because they had some good success against India over in England, so I spoke to him (about) a few of their plans. Again, you have to back yourself, keep it as simple as you can and do what got me to where I am now, as well as a bit of research into methods to get them out. I am 100 per cent confident I can do the job and the bowlers can do the job," he said.
"You watched them (Indian batsmen) in England and you felt that (signs of decline) at times. But they went back to India and they've played some good cricket. It's going to be different conditions for them and no doubt they are going to have the England series in the back of their mind as well. They will still be hard to bowl to," he added.