Pattinson to play in Futures League
February 17, 2012 16:24:00 UK
Australia fast bowler James Pattinson says that he wants to make his comeback from injury in the on-going Commonwealth Bank Series.
My plan is to play this Futures game, get a bit of workload into my body and slot back in for the one-day series.
James Pattinson
Pattinson picked up a foot injury in the second test of the Border-Gavaskar Test series against India and hasn't played competitive cricket since then.
He is expected to take part in his state side Victoria's Futures League match against South Australia on Monday and the 21-year-old paceman is hoping that a strong performance in that match would get him another ODI call-up from the Australian selectors.
On Friday, Pattinson said: "My plan is to play this Futures game, get a bit of workload into my body and slot back in for the one-day series. We have got a game out here (at the MCG against Sri Lanka on March 2) and then the final so I will be looking towards that."
Instead of playing Sheffield Shield or Ryobi Cup matches, he has taken the unusual route of making his comeback in a Futures League, but he says that it will allow him to judge whether his foot has fully recovered or not.
"I am probably not ready to go at 100 percent at the moment. If I was playing Shield cricket Shippy (Victorian coach Greg Shipperd) would be at me to give 100 percent given we can make the final and I am just not ready for that at the moment," Pattinson added.
"But it (the Futures match) is a stepping stone for me to get back to bigger and better things."
Australia are 1.66 to win their next ODI, against India on Sunday, with India 2.20 to come out on top in Brisbane.
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