Pattinson set for Lord's farewell

While his Australia teammates enjoy some time off after the Champions Trophy, James Pattinson will extend his stay in the UK to represent Nottinghamshire in their one-day final clash against Surrey at Lord’s on July 1.

Pattinson’s contract was set to expire following Nottinghamshire’s four-day Division Two County Championship clash with Kent next week, but after the Outlaws beat Essex on Friday, the Australian will stick around for a few extra days in the pursuit of some silverware.

"James is contracted to stay with us until after the final, and we’re very excited about that," said assistant head coach Paul Franks on the club’s official website.

"It’s what we aimed for when he came to join us, so we’re delighted that it’s turned out that way. I know, having spoken to James on Friday, he’s keen to finish with us very strongly, both in the final and the County Championship matches.

"James has been excellent. We knew what we were getting in terms of what he would bring to the changing room and the team as a whole, and the way he’s played his cricket has excited the fans and his teammates.

"He only knows one way to play and that is up front and getting on with it, and we’ve responded well to that approach as a team."

Pattinson has been imperious for Nottinghamshire this season.

In four County matches, the 27-year-old has captured 25 wickets at a remarkable average 10.24 and a lethal strike-rate of 22.2 balls per wicket.

Pattinson captured 5-33 against Leicestershire overnight, his second five-wicket haul of the English summer.

The Victorian’s returns in the 50-over format have been solid compared to his red-ball record, with 12 wickets at 35.58 in nine matches.

When Pattinson walks through the Grace Gates of Lord’s next month, it will be the first time since the 2013 Ashes he has played at the Home of Cricket.

That match ended poorly for both Pattinson and Australia, with the former suffering a stress-fracture in his back while the visitors were comfortably beaten by 347 runs.

Now Pattinson is fully fit and firing and will be hoping for a better outcome on July 1.

Pattinson was included in Australia’s 13-man Test squad to tour Bangladesh in August-September but Franks isn’t ruling out a possible return of the express paceman as the search for his replacement continues.

"We have got a few plans in the pipeline after Dan Christian and Ish Sodhi play as our overseas players in the T20," Franks said.

"With the international schedules being tweaked, it’s difficult at the moment to say what will or will not be happening, but we will be scouting to make sure we have a player of quality of the ones we have had so far in (Cheteshwar) Pujara and James Pattinson.

"With regard to James, you don’t rule anything out. Experience tells me that you can’t. From our point of view we’d loves James to come back in August, of course we would, but he’s got a lot to work through with Cricket Australia and we’ll keep close tabs on that."