Pattinson returns for county finals tilt

Australia's early Champions Trophy exit has provided an unexpected bonus for county side Nottinghamshire, with firebrand quick James Pattinson returning for their domestic one-day finals campaign.

Nottingham travel to face Somerset in their one-day cup play-off today (8pm AEST) with a spot in Friday's semi-final against Essex on the line. 

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Unused in Australia's sodden Champions Trophy campaign, Pattinson returns to the county fresh and raring to unleash after impressing earlier in the domestic seasons, and will reunite to form a fearsome pace duo with England's Stuart Broad.

"To have Stuart Broad and James Pattinson available is a huge boost for us," said Notts assistant coach Paul Franks.

"I know James is champing at the bit after being with Australia but not getting an opportunity to play.

"They were both very important to us in the group stage and they'll certainly strengthen our attack."

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Pattinson was on fire for the Outlaws in four-day cricket to start the English summer, capturing 20 wickets in three matches at an outrageous average of 11.15.

And in seven 50-over games before his Champions Trophy call-up, he had 11 wickets at 27 and an economy rate of less than 5.5 an over.

The mix-and-match nature of an English county season means Notts and Somerset enter their 50-over showdown fresh off the back of County Championship fixtures. 

Somerset suffered a narrow defeat to Yorkshire in Division One, while Franks blasted the state of the surface prepared in Bristol after Notts' draw with Gloucestershire. 

After Notts had skittled Gloucstershire at Trent Bridge on a pace that offered plenty of carry and bounce, a surface offering neither was served up for the return match.

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"Let's not kid ourselves. No matter what anybody says about it, after having beaten them comprehensively on a pitch which had some pace, carry and bounce, we didn't expect to come here and see a pitch that did the same," said Franks

"It makes a mockery of what good cricket should be about. That's just my personal opinion. I feel very strongly about it. 

"The frustrating thing for me is that when the ball is not carrying to the wicketkeeper, that cannot be an acceptable situation for four-day cricket to be played.

"Four-day cricket should be a game of skill, where seam bowlers and spin bowlers are in play and batsmen can score runs. If you bowl well then all good. If you don't bowl well, you'll get scored off.

"But this wasn't even a good pitch for batting: 80 runs a session on average, two wickets a session on average. It's there for everybody to see. It's a little bit raw for us in the dressing room at the minute. 

"But if these are the things we have to face, we have to find a way to be better, game on game."

Pattinson's Victoria teammate and fellow Champions Trophy squad member John Hastings will also return to county ranks, rejoining Worcestershire in place of Australia off-spinner Nathan Lyon.

Hastings will be available for Worcestershire's one-day semi-final on June 17.