Pattinson heads to NZ for Test preparations

James Pattinson has been pulled out of Victoria's ongoing Sheffield Shield match to fly to New Zealand to begin preparations in local conditions for Australia's Test series against New Zealand.

Pattinson will be replaced in the Commonwealth Bank Bushrangers XI by Clint McKay, with Victoria resuming day three seeking another seven wickets with Tasmania sitting on 3-62.

Pattinson bowled eight overs for Victoria yesterday, taking 1-27, removing Tasmanian opener Ben Dunk in his second over with the new ball. He also bowled 13.3 overs in the first innings for 2-54. 

The 21.3 total overs he has bowled with the red Kookaburra at the MCG has been deemed sufficient preparation before heading to Wellington. Pattinson will head to across the Tasman for Australia's Qantas Tour of New Zealand with the first Test due to start at the Basin Reserve on February 12.

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The output is enough to convince selectors he has overcome the shin sorness he had been suffering since the Boxing Day Test which National Selector Rod Marsh highlighted when naming Pattinson in the original 14-man Test squad.

"We are hopeful James Pattinson will be able to overcome the shin soreness he has been suffering with and continue the fine form he showed in this summer's Tests when he bowled at good pace, while Peter Siddle is on the verge of playing again following the ankle injury he suffered during the West Indies series," Marsh said when announcing the Test squad on January 20.

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The Australian one-day squad was this morning training in Wellington ahead of Saturday's second Chappell-Haddlee Trophy series match, which the Black Caps currently lead 1-0.

Pattinson's teammate and fellow Test squad member Peter Siddle is staying with his Shield team, as is Tasmanian bowler Jackson Bird, another member of the Test squad.

Pattinson is Victoria's second replacement for the match against Tasmania after Ian Holland was called up from 12th man duties to replace Marcus Stoinis. The Victorian allrounder was drafted into Australia's limited-overs squad as injury cover for James Faulkner, who returned to Australia to recuperate from a hamstring niggle.

The remainder of the Test squad will assemble on Sunday following completion of the current round of Shield matches. 

Peter Nevill, Nathan Lyon and Adam Voges are currently in Christchurch playing in the NSW Blues v Alcohol.Think Again Western Warriors historic Sheffield Shield clash. While Joe Burns and Chadd Sayers are playing in Adelaide for the myFootDr Queensland Bulls and West End Redbacks respectively.

Australia Test squad: David Warner, Joe Burns, Usman Khawaja, Steve Smith (c), Adam Voges, Mitchell Marsh, Peter Nevill, James Pattinson, Peter Siddle, Josh Hazlewood, Nathan Lyon, Jackson Bird, Shaun Marsh, Chadd Sayers