Aggression is natural for fiery James Pattinson

JAMES PATTINSON says the aggressive streak that resulted in him being cautioned for bouncing India’s batsmen on the last day of the MCG Test comes naturally.

The 21-year-old quick claimed his second man-of-the-match award in three Tests after snaring 4-53 on Thursday’s final day, including the key wickets of Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman and MS Dhoni.

Earlier in the day, he was the third top-scorer in Australia’s second innings, posting an unbeaten 37 and sharing a 43-run last-wicket stand with Ben Hilfenhaus which turned a testing target into an insurmountable one for the tourists.

If his runs and wickets weren’t enough to get under the Indians’ skin, he peppered the tail with some hostile bowling.

In one over, he delivered three successive short deliveries to India’s No.9 Zaheer Khan, resulting in a no-ball call and an official caution from the umpires.

But the Victorian, who described his Boxing Day Test experience as everything he could have hoped for and more, denied he had set out to intimidate.

“It’s not really a conscious effort,” Pattinson said.

“It’s just the way I play cricket, it’s the way I’ve been brought up.

“I like to attack it, I like to go out there and do my own stuff. It’s just the way I play.”

Despite India never seriously threatening to succeed in their run-chase, it was not the only tense last-day moment.

Earlier, opener Gautam Gambhir pulled away as Ben Hilfenhaus was bowling and approached the umpires, apparently irritated by comments from Australia’s fieldsmen.

Dhoni and Zaheer also spoke with the umpires at one point, although Dhoni later said it was more a case of the officials being proactive to prevent a minor exchange flaring into something more serious.

“They wanted to keep the batsmen and a few fielders away from each other, so it does look good on the field, it doesn’t look ugly on the field,” he said.

“That was the only reason.

“But it was handled in a good way, no controversy around it and a bit of chit-chat is always good when it comes to cricket.”

IMAGE: James Pattinson celebrates dismissing Zaheer Khan on the fourth day of the first Test victory by Australian over India at the MCG in Melbourne, Thursday, Dec. 29, 2011. (AAP Image/Julian Smith)