Patto's plea: I just need to play cricket

Firebrand fast bowler James Pattinson will burst out of cotton wool this week and says a major goal in his latest comeback from injury is simple - to play as much cricket as possible.

Pattinson has been restricted to just 12 first-class matches since the middle of 2013 and says the changes made to his bowling action in recent years, designed to reduce his risk of further injury, won't be on his mind in his Sheffield Shield comeback in Adelaide over the weekend.

The 26-year-old, who has reportedly been bowling with serious pace in second XI and club cricket, is keen to release the shackles and bowl without restrictions after a frustrating few years that has been plagued by injuries, long periods of rehabilitation and not much cricket.

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"Being a fast bowler, there's always risk," Pattinson said in Melbourne today, adding his long-term goal is to return to Australia's Test side for the Ashes next summer.

"It's a hard job. I'm getting to that age where I just need to play cricket.

"I'm hoping I can play all these Shield games (for the rest of the season) and can get a lot of cricket under my belt.

"I'm 26 so I just need to play cricket now and get that hardening into my body. Over the last three years I haven't had that.

"I'm a big believer in the more you bowl, the more accustomed your body becomes to bowling.

"If you go from bowling not much to bowling 40 or 50 overs in a Test match, you're bound to break down.

"The best way for my back to get better is to just play more cricket and get my body accustomed to it.

"Back when I was 21 and 22 I felt like I played a lot of cricket then and my back was pretty good through that stage."

Pattinson's two most recent comebacks to the Test side have ended with Australia re-claiming the world No.1 ranking, and him on the long-term injury list.

His one-match return for the series-clinching win over South Africa in Cape Town almost three years ago was followed by lengthy lay-off due to stress fractures in his back.

Then having played four Tests last summer, including a victory over New Zealand in Christchurch that sent Australia back to No.1, he was sidelined with long-term foot and back problems.

His multiple comebacks over the years have been carefully managed, but Pattinson confirmed he won't have any restrictions on the number of overs he can bowl against South Australia this week.

He said being able to bowl as much as required was one of his prerequisites for his return to the first-class arena, as was a solid block of bowling in club, second XI and KFC Big Bash League cricket.

"That was one of the things I didn't want, was to come into a game having restrictions," he said.

"I'm definitely not going in underdone, which is one of the good things for me.

"I wanted to get a lot of cricket under my belt before I did play any four-day cricket so I'm happy I've done that.

"They're coming out really well so hopefully I can get over there and contribute to a winning team."

Pattinson played the opening two days of Victoria's Future's League match against the ACT on Monday and Tuesday, taking 2-22 from five overs, which was enough for Bushrangers selectors to add him into the Shield squad.

Coach Andrew McDonald, who confirmed Pattinson will be picked in the XI to play the Redbacks, was understandably excited to have one of the fastest bowlers in the country in his Shield side for the first time.

And he backed his bowler's plan to focus less on his bowling technique and more on where the ball is going.

"Yeah, he's fast," McDonald said with a wry smile when asked for his assessment of Pattinson's form.

"I didn't get out to the second team game but the report from the assistant coach, David Hussey, was that he was bowling fast. So that's really exciting.

"When he's up and running, he's fast and he bowls outswing. It's great to see him back out there.

"Any player that goes into a game worrying about technique, from a batting or bowling point of view, is really up against it.

"So his ability to clear his mind, back himself and enjoy it will hold him in good stead."

The Bushrangers have also been boosted for the match against the Redbacks by the return of Chris Tremain, while Aaron Finch and Marcus Stoinis have been added to the squad following Australia's ODI series in New Zealand.

The top-of-the-table clash at the Adelaide Oval begins on Friday.

Victoria squad: Cameron White (c), Scott Boland, Dan Christian, Travis Dean, Aaron Finch, Evan Gulbis, Sam Harper, Marcus Harris, Jon Holland, James Pattinson, Rob Quiney, Marcus Stoinis, Chris Tremain