Discarded Australian bowler James Pattinson is eyeing a return to international cricket is summer Ashes this year, and has chosen English cricket county as the path for it. The right-arm pacer was once tipped to be the next big thing in Australia, but unfortunately injuries ate his young years on bigger stage.
For once, he was out due to back pain and if that was healed, his knees and shoulders used to come up with an issue. Pattinson, 26, last played a Test match in 2016 against New Zealand in Christchurch. For now, he has pre-planned his comeback when he spearheads Victoria’s attack against Western Australia in a crucial Sheffield Shield clash in Alice Springs, beginning on Wednesday.
It is understood that Cricket Australia had reservations for Pattinson to head to England and were also keen to keep an eye on his performance. The seamer, however, believes he needs to bowl well to keep his subtle body is shape and intact to fight more fierce battle on field. He said he would love to be a part of Australia’s squad for Champions Trophy but for that he needs to be 100% fit. If that happens, Pattinson might head for the two-Tests against Bangladesh in August-September later this year.
Going by the observations, both Pattinson and Pat Cummins are in contention, with the latter all set to play his first Sheffield Shield game in about six years time.