07 November, 2009
Feeling fresh and fit after a productive season with Nottinghamshire, Darren Pattinson is looking forward to establishing himself at the frontline of the Bushrangers' attack in 2009-10.
Pattison started the new season a shade behind the likes of Clinton McKay, Dirk Nannes, Shane Harwood and Peter Siddle - all of whom have represented Australia at either Test, ODI or Twenty20 international level - on the state's pace-bowling pecking order.
But injuries to Nannes and Siddle as well as Bushrangers squad members Damien Wright and Pattison's own younger brother James, combined with McKay's call-up for the final three ODIs in India, have created an opportunity that the 30-year-old is determined to grasp.
He made a statement with 3-34 in Victoria's five-wicket Ford Ranger Cup win over the Redbacks last Wednesday and will be looking to take it up a notch in Saturday's one-dayer against Tasmania at the MCG.
Pattison, who was plucked from obscurity by England's Test selectors to represent the country of his birth against South Africa at Leeds in 2008, only to be branded the scapegoat for his team's defeat, worked hard towards the end of the recent county season to be in peak fitness for his Bushrangers campaign.
He cut back on the weights, did a bit more running and feels that he benefited from being 'rotated' from time to time.
"I've been not bowling as much this year and really looking after myself, so it means a lot to come back and get straight into it," said Pattison.
"Last year I didn't get right until after Christmas, I came back with a groin injury and I bowled a lot of overs in England."
"I understand now being a 30-year-old that ... first and foremost comes your fitness, especially with the way that people are going down with injuries now, there's always an opportunity there so I want to be fit and ready to go whenever I get called on."
While Pattison enjoys the challenge of one-day cricket he feels he's better suited to the four-day game and it's in the Shield that he's keenest to make his mark this season.
"I don't want to be a bit-part player, I want to be in all forms of the game so if I get a chance hopefully I'll do well and stay in the side," he said.
"I enjoy it when the ball's swinging around a bit more and you can bowl some long spells and try and think the batsmen out."