KP prepares to swap dollars for pounds

Test No.6 Kurtis Patterson might have to swap the green currency of the USA for the green pitches of England if his Test career extends to the Ashes later this year.

Patterson has planned to travel to the United States this off-season to holiday and visit the family of his American partner, Jocelyn.

But after earning a Baggy Green last month, Patterson’s vacation plans look set to change if he is picked for the Australia A tour to England in mid-July that precedes the Ashes.

"I've certainly flagged that with the partner," Patterson said on cricket.com.au's Facebook Live video this morning.

"Jocelyn is all okay with that, she's supportive.

"It will be just wait-and-see case with what happens with cricket.

"Obviously, there's an Aussie A tour over there throughout the World Cup that I'd like to be a part of if selected.

"Still trying to get over there for a couple of weeks to see her family but we'll play it by ear."

Patterson is playing in his second Test at Manuka Oval today having demanded a Test debut at the Gabba through weight of runs in red-ball cricket this summer.

The lanky left-hander made a dogged 30 in his maiden innings in Brisbane against the second new pink ball in artificial light.

Reflecting on his first Test, Patterson admits to 'overthinking' the step up to international level before finding his groove at the crease. 

"To be honest, I probably overthought it I reckon going into the first Test," he said.

"Once I got out there it felt like another game of cricket with a few more people in the stands.

"That was a positive for me, to go out there and feel like it was another game of Shield cricket.

"I'm hoping this is a nice experience down here in Canberra for the first Test and once you get out there the initial nerves calm down and it's just another game of cricket."

Patterson now has the chance to secure a ticket to the Ashes, or at least on the Australia A tour, with a big score in the nation's capital.

But the 25-year-old is not letting his thoughts trickle to a possible Ashes trip.

"No not yet," he said.

"This game is really important for us. We really want to go out there and put on our best performance and do whatever we can to try and win the Test.

"I've always believed that stuff takes care of itself as long as you look after the present, so nothing will change for this Test."

Domain Test Series v Sri Lanka

Australia: Tim Paine (c/wk), Joe Burns, Pat Cummins, Marcus Harris, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Kurtis Patterson, Will Pucovski, Jhye Richardson, Peter Siddle, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis

Sri Lanka: Dinesh Chandimal (c), Dimuth Karunaratne, Lahiru Thirimanne, Kusal Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Dhananjaya de Silva, Roshen Silva, Niroshan Dickwella (wk), Kusal Perera, Dilruwan Perera, Lakshan Sandakan, Suranga Lakmal, Kasun Rajitha, Chamika Karunaratne, Vishwa Fernando

First Test: Australia won by an innings and 40 runs

Second Test: February 1-5, Canberra