James Pattinson suspended for hurling ball at Daniel Hughes

Fast bowler James Pattinson has been handed a one-game suspension for a code of conduct breach during Victoria's Sheffield Shield win over New South Wales at the MCG.

During the final day, Pattinson fielded a ball in his follow through and threw it back at Blues batter Daniel Hughes who had not left his crease after playing a defensive stroke and showed no intent to take off for a run. Pattinson's throw struck Hughes on the foot and left him in some discomfort.

Pattinson was immediately apologetic, although Hughes was clearly angered, but he was charged under Article 2.7 of CA's code of conduct, "for throwing a ball at or near a player in an inappropriate and/or dangerous manner during a match."

CA subsequently found Pattinson guilty of the level two breach on Wednesday. He has fined 100% of his match fee for the Shield game and also received one suspension point and meaning he is ineligible to play in Victoria's one-day Marsh Cup match against NSW at the MCG on Friday. Pattinson has the right to appeal the decision.

It is the fourth time in four seasons Pattinson has been charged with code of conduct breaches and the second time he has been suspended for a level two breach in a Sheffield Shield game.

In 2019, he was suspended for personal abuse of a player after a verbal outburst at then Queensland bowler Cameron Gannon.

Pattinson was also fined 100% of his match fee and accepted the one-game suspension which meant he was ineligible to play in Australia's first Test against Pakistan that summer. He would only play two Tests that summer which were the last of his nine-year Test career after he announced his retirement from international cricket last month.

Prior to the incident with Gannon, Pattinson had previously been found guilty of two level one code of conduct breaches for which he received a reprimand and a 100% match fee fine, the latter for showing dissent at the umpire's decision in a Shield game against South Australia in 2018-19.

Pattinson's is the sixth code of conduct charged handed out in men's domestic cricket this season which have included Marnus Labuschagne (excessive appealing) and Cameron Green (dissent).