'Excited' Pattinson has got that debut feeling

James Pattinson has been in the international wilderness for so long that he feels like he’s about to make his national debut all over again.

Pattinson joined the Australia A squad on Friday in Derby, his latest step towards a possible Ashes recall and a return in the Baggy Green for the first time in three-and-a-half years.

"I came in yesterday and picked up my clothes and it was the first time I put on an Australian top for about three years," Pattinson told cricket.com.au on Saturday.

"It was quite exciting, it felt like I was back in 2011 making my debut again.

Image Id: 206119D19AE94E22B1BC27E185F86F2B Image Caption: Pattinson made a big impact on his Test debut // Getty

"It's great to be back around the guys you play domestic cricket against at the same time as a World Cup is on. We've pretty much got the all the best players in Australia all over in England at the same time.

"It's going to be a really exciting month and something I know the boys are really looking forward to."

Since his last Test against the Black Caps in Christchurch in early 2016, Pattinson has been waylaid with repeated back injuries that had him considering walking away from the game altogether.

But his imperious Test record confirmed in his mind his best was good enough if he could just get on the park, so in late 2017 he underwent radical back surgery in New Zealand in a last-ditch effort to revive his Test career.

And it’s been so far so good for Pattinson, who has suffered minor setbacks but none relating to his back as he's returned to first-class cricket in both Australia and England.

The 29-year-old enters the A tour off the back of a disrupted season with county side Nottinghamshire, but says both his body and bowling is feeling good.

Image Id: 24B0D4C89CEB437ABCFB7EF0A3959417 Image Caption: Pattinson has joined the A side after playing for Notts // Getty

"I didn't bowl as much as I would have probably liked in terms of the games (for Notts) so there's a few things to tinker with, but I've got a really good opportunity coming into the A team," he said.

"(We play a) few one-dayers followed by three four-day games, which is enough preparation for hopefully an Ashes selection.

"I think I'm bowling pretty well. I know I got eight wickets (last game for Notts against Kent) but I think there's still room for improvement.

"I'll be looking to improve as much as I can throughout this A tour and keep learning and evolving my game."

With the experience of two county seasons and the advice from Notts teammate and Ashes rival Stuart Broad under his belt, Pattinson believes he knows what it takes to be successful in English conditions.

And contrary to popular belief, it's got very little - if anything - to do with trying to prodigiously move the ball through the air.

"I know a lot gets talked about swing, but I think you've just got to put the ball in the right area," he said.

"That knee-roll length, top of the stumps, challenging the batter's defence over and over; that's what the most successful bowlers do over here.

"Naturally the ball will swing over here, clouds overhead have a lot to do with it as well.

"I know the Ashes when I was here in 2013 and watching 2015, there was a lot of talk about swing. But I think bowlers who can bowl the ball in the right area and hit that knee roll are the bowlers who will be most successful."

Australia A tour of the UK

Get live scores and all the latest news from Australia A's tour of the UK on cricket.com.au and the CA Live app

Australia A one-day squad: Travis Head (c), Matthew Wade, Will Pucovski, Peter Handscomb, Mitch Marsh (vc), D'Arcy Short, Kurtis Patterson, Ashton Agar, Michael Neser, James Pattinson, Josh Hazlewood (vc), Sean Abbott, Andrew Tye

Australia A four-day squad: Tim Paine (c), Marcus Harris, Kurtis Patterson, Will Pucovski, Travis Head (vc), Peter Handscomb, Matthew Wade, Mitch Marsh, Michael Neser, Jon Holland, James Pattinson, Jackson Bird, Josh Hazlewood (vc), Chris Tremain

One-day fixtures:

June 20: Australia A beat Northamptonshire by six wickets

June 23: Australia A v Derbyshire, County Ground

June 25: Australia A v Worcestershire, Kidderminster CC

June 30: Australia A v Gloucestershire, Bristol

July 2: Australia A v Gloucestershire, Bristol

Four-day fixtures:

July 7-10: Australia A v Sussex, Arundel

July 13-16: Australia A v England Lions, Canterbury

July 23-26: Australia v Australia A, Hampshire