Pattinson details "risky" operation

Injured fast bowler James Pattinson has spoken in depth about the operation he underwent in New Zealand that he hopes will prolong his Test career. 

Pattinson suffered his fifth back stress fracture this winter, ruling him out of Australia's Qantas Tour of Bangladesh, the Magellan Ashes series and the entire 2017-18 season.

He's since gone under the knife in New Zealand for the same operation former Black Caps quick Shane Bond had during his career, to reinforce the problem area.

"The reason we went over there was because they use a good technique where they don't actually touch the fracture with any pins or anything like that," Pattinson told SEN's The Run Home.

"They put the pins there as an anchor and anchor a wire around that area to basically clamp it shut so there's no movement in there and stops the stress going in that area.

"The surgery wasn't as big and bad as it was made out to be."

Having previously expressed that he felt he had been rushed back from injury too soon in the past, Pattinson says there is no set date for his return to competitive cricket.

"There's been different timeframes on different players," he said. 

"I had a good chat to Shane Bond before when he did it and he said he was back playing within four months, which was quite quick.

"But I've put a line through my name for the rest of the summer with the injury and there's really not much cricket next winter, so there's a good chance to try and give it every chance to heal. 

"They did a bone graft as well from my hip so I've got new bone from my hip in that actual fracture, so they're trying to strengthen that area up as well to give it a bit more reinforcement so it will stop fracturing."

Pattinson burst onto the Test arena as a 21-year-old against New Zealand in Brisbane, taking the first five wickets of the Black Caps' second innings to finish with 5-27 and player-of-the-match honours. 

But in the six years since his debut, the rapid right-armer has played only 16 more Tests as each return was cut short by injury. 

At his best, Pattinson is a world-class fast bowler – he has 70 wickets at 26 in 17 Tests – and says the carrot of Test cricket and his impressive record is what made the decision to have the "risky" surgery an easy one.

"The big thing on getting the operation was I probably could have not had the operation and maybe settled to play the shorter format of the game," Pattinson said. 

"But being 27 and having a pretty good Test record and doing quite well, that's the big thing that's kept me pushing on and trying to get back.

"When I'm up and playing I find that I can handle it pretty well and do well and have good success and good team success and I think that's the driving thing. 

"If I was just an average player and I struggled to get a game it would probably be easier to walk away, but because I know I can compete at the highest level and do well that's the factor that keeps me going. 

"I decided to have the surgery so hopefully it does allow me to get back playing Test cricket. 

"If I didn't I would have struggled to get back and play as many Tests. 

"It was an easy decision in the end to try and get back and play Test cricket."

2017-18 International Fixtures:

Magellan Ashes Series

First Test Gabba, November 23-27. Buy tickets

Second Test Adelaide Oval, December 2-6 (Day-Night). Buy tickets

Third Test WACA Ground, December 14-18. Buy tickets

Fourth Test MCG, December 26-30. Buy tickets

Fifth Test SCG, January 4-8 (Pink Test). Buy tickets

Gillette ODI Series v England

First ODI MCG, January 14. Buy tickets

Second ODI Gabba, January 19. Buy tickets

Third ODI SCG, January 21. Buy tickets

Fourth ODI Adelaide Oval, January 26. Buy tickets

Fifth ODI Perth TBC, January 28. Join the ACF

Prime Minister's XI

PM's XI v England Manuka Oval, February 2. Buy tickets

Gillette T20 INTL Series

First T20I Australia v NZ, SCG, February 3. Buy tickets

Second T20I – Australia v England, Blundstone Arena, February 7. Buy tickets

Third T20I – Australia v England, MCG, February 10. Buy tickets

Fourth T20I – NZ v England, Wellington, February 13

Fifth T20I – NZ v Australia, Eden Park, February 16

Sixth T20I – NZ v England, Seddon Park, February 18

Final – TBC, Eden Park, February 21