Why Pattinson could be the first quick picked

Squeezing Australia’s ‘Big Four’ fast bowlers into the same side is a pleasant nightmare for the National Selection Panel, but James Pattinson's "ideal preparation" could make him the first quick picked in the upcoming Champions Trophy campaign. 

It’s unlikely the power-packed pace quartet of Pattinson, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Patrick Cummins will all feature in the same team, but the Victorian’s county stint with Division Two outfit Nottinghamshire could give him the edge over his tearaway teammates. 

Pattinson has been on fire for Nottinghamshire in four-day cricket to start the English summer having captured 20 wickets in three matches at an outrageous average of 11.15. 

His new-ball partnership with England veteran Stuart Broad is a major reason why the men from Trent Bridge are undefeated and leading Division Two.

Now Nottinghamshire’s attention turns to white-ball cricket and England’s 50-over domestic tournament where Pattinson could possibly play eight matches before he links up with Australia’s Champion’s Trophy squad ahead of their first warm-up match against Sri Lanka on May 26 in London.

"It's ideal preparation (for the Champions Trophy) me playing white-ball cricket over here," Pattinson told Nottinghamshire’s website. 

"I've not played much white ball since the Big Bash so I'm looking forward to getting back into that.

"Hopefully we can put on a really good performance.

"On paper we've got a really strong white-ball team."

The 26-year-old hasn’t played one-day cricket for Australia since September 2015 and is likely fourth in line for a fast bowling spot behind Starc, Hazlewood and Cummins, who all featured in the 50-over format at international level this summer. 

However, Starc is still recovering from a foot injury that ruled him out of the final two Tests of the Qantas Tour of India, Hazlewood has only just returned to bowling after a gruelling workload in the subcontinent and Cummins will head to England having spent six weeks in the Indian Premier League with Delhi Daredevils. 

Which means Pattinson would have form, fitness and familiarity with the white ball in England come selection time. 

Quick Single: All the Champions Trophy squads to date

Pattinson made a successful comeback from a back injury he sustained in New Zealand in February last year, first by playing in the KFC Big Bash League for Melbourne Renegades and then starring for Victoria in the Sheffield Shield where he helped the Bushrangers secure a hat-trick of titles with victory over South Australia in the final last month.

The right-armer, who replaced close friend Peter Siddle at Notts as the veteran pacemen continues to recover from injury, has had his county stint curtailed with national selection.

But after beating Sussex last week, Pattinson said he wants to return to Trent Bridge after the Champions Trophy concluded to see out his contract. 

"Hopefully I'll be back," he said. "I'm contracted until the end of June. 

"The Champions Trophy is in the middle of June.

"I'm looking to come back and play two or three more four-day games. The one-dayers start now."

Champions Trophy 2017 Guide

Squads: Every Champions Trophy squad named so far

Group A: Australia, New Zealand, England, Bangladesh.

Group B: India, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Pakistan.

Schedule

Warm-up matches

26 May – Australia v Sri Lanka, The Oval

27 May – Bangladesh v Pakistan, Edgbaston

28 May – India v New Zealand, The Oval

29 May – Australia v Pakistan, Edgbaston

30 May – New Zealand v Sri Lanka, Edgbaston

30 May – Bangladesh vs India, The Oval

Tournament

1 June – England v Bangladesh, The Oval (Day)

2 June – Australia v New Zealand, Edgbaston (D)

3 June – Sri Lanka v South Africa, The Oval (D)

4 June – India v Pakistan, Edgbaston (D)

5 June – Australia v Bangladesh, The Oval (D/N)

6 June – England v New Zealand, Cardiff (D)

7 June – Pakistan v South Africa, Edgbaston (D/N)

8 June – India v Sri Lanka, The Oval (D)

9 June – New Zealand v Bangladesh, Cardiff (D)

10 June – England v Australia, Edgbaston (D)

11 June – India v South Africa, The Oval (D)

12 June – Sri Lanka v Pakistan, Cardiff (D)

14 June – First semi-final (A1 v B2), Cardiff (D)

15 June – Second semi-final (A2 v B1), Edgbaston (D)

18 June – Final, The Oval (D)

19 June – Reserve day (D)