Pattinson back to stake claim
PACEMAN James Pattinson takes the next big step on the long road towards a planned return to the Test arena when he makes an eagerly-awaited first-class return for Victoria on Saturday.
Pattinson played the most recent of his 13 Tests in South Africa in March last year before succumbing to a serious back injury.
The match against Queensland at the Gabba will mark the first Sheffield Shield cricket he has played for Victoria in more than two years.
“It is a huge relief,” said the 24-year-old, who has eased his way back by playing for his district club Dandenong and for the Melbourne Renegades in the BBL.
“The whole process over the last six months has been about trying to get my body right and getting my action right to be playing the longer format of the game in red-ball cricket.’’
Victoria will take a strong pace attack into the game at the Gabba, with fellow interna- tional star Peter Siddle also included in the 12-man squad.
Marcus Stoinis returns after missing the BBL with a hand injury, as does Test opener Chris Rogers.
Out of the Bushrangers’ team are World Cup squad members Glenn Maxwell and Aaron Finch, injured batsman David Hussey and Chris Tremain.
Victoria sits atop the Sheffield Shield table, with Queensland in last place.