Patterson Test recall chances in tatters

KURTIS Patterson’s chances of earning a Test recall against Pakistan at the Gabba appear shot after he was ruled out of two more Sheffield Shield matches for NSW due to injury.

With Australia still searching for a No. 6 batsman for next month’s series opener, Patterson has played just once for the Blues in the Shield this season after suffering a quad injury in late September.

He is now expected to miss the next two rounds as he recovers, beginning with Friday’s clash with South Australia.

It means he will not play again before the first Test on November 21, and feature in a maximum of just two firstclass matches before the competition breaks for the Big Bash League.

Patterson’s quad problem has been an ongoing issue from the start of his summer. He made a comeback against Tasmania last week, before aggravating the injury in the field and batting at No. 11 with a runner.

The 26-year-old made his debut for Australia last summer and made an unbeaten century in his second Test against Sri Lanka in Canberra.

He was unfortunate to be overlooked for Australia’s Ashes campaign, where only Matt Wade, Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne locked themselves into top-six spots for this summer.

Travis Head is still struggling for form, Mitch Marsh is injured with a self-inflicted broken hand, leaving youngster Will Pucovski as the most likely pick for the first match of the two-Test series in Brisbane.

Meanwhile, Josh Hazlewood will make his red-ball return for NSW at Adelaide Oval, after sitting out the opening two Shield rounds to rest following the Ashes.

Hazlewood endured a difficult year after picking up a back injury last summer, but is now back to full fitness. Nathan Lyon will also feature for the Blues, with Matt Gilkes, Liam Hather and Daniel Solway all in line for possible debuts after being named in the 12-man squad.