If the Australian selectors had any doubt over who to pick for the first Test against South Africa at the Gabba in just under a month, young gun James Pattinson has made it easy for them.
The 22-year-old could not have staked his claim for a baggy green cap more emphatically after steering Victoria to a remarkable 10-wicket win over defending Sheffield Shield champions Queensland at the Gabba on Friday.
Nearly a year on from taking 5-24 on his Test debut against New Zealand at the same venue, a merciless Pattinson stunned the Bulls with his first domestic five-wicket haul.
While Australia's pace stocks look as good as they have for years, the Victorian must now be close to a lock for the opening Test of the summer against the Proteas, having continued his love affair with the Brisbane ground.
"Hopefully I'll be in there around the mix now," said Pattinson, who finished with combined figures of 8-61.
"I think I've played enough cricket on these grounds now to sort of know what you get."
His mentor, Peter Siddle, is expected to lead Australia's attack alongside swing king Ben Hilfenhaus and one or two of young quicks Pattinson, Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins.
Siddle was eased through the match, bowling only 20 overs for match figures of 5-47.
This was Pattinson and Siddle's second domestic preview of a Test wicket in as many weeks - the Bushrangers took another 10-wicket win away from the WACA Ground, which is where Australia will face South Africa from November 30.
"We've taken the most out of it and got a fantastic opportunity before the series. It's fantastic preparation," Pattinson said.
"You probably can't get much better than playing here and Perth, where two of the first Tests are."
A humble Pattinson has his fingers crossed that he's done enough to impress the national selectors.
"It's always good taking wickets to put your name up for selection," he said.
"There's a fantastic group of bowlers - Siddsy's bowling fantastic, Mitchell Starc's up and firing, (Ben) Hilfenhaus, so it's a really great time for Cricket Australia at the moment to have such depth in the bowling.
"Come November 9 and the first Test here, we'll all be up and ready to go for a great series."
The rest of Victoria's pace battery - including John Hastings (2-36) and Clint McKay (1-12) - also took full advantage of a bountiful Gabba pitch in a stunning second innings.
"It is a good place to bowl when you get it right," Pattinson said.
"It can go the other way as well - when you don't get it too right, it's quite a quick wicket and sometimes pretty easy to score.
"We've got a fantastic bowling line-up at Victoria, probably one that anyone can play Test cricket with John Hastings coming back and doing really well for us.
"It's that relentless pressure that's hard on the batsman. We put it all together in this game, it was an amazing performance by all the bowling group."
First Posted 13 October, 2012 10:47AM AEST
