Three formats 'a lot of pressure' - Pattinson

James Pattinson has conceded that he has found it hard to balance all three forms of the game, and he said he was not disappointed at being left out of Australia's 30-man preliminary squad for the ICC World Twenty20. Despite being part of Australia's most recent T20 series in the West Indies, Pattinson was one of the surprise omissions from Australia's initial squad announced on Wednesday, from which a final 15-man group will be chosen.

Pattinson, 22, signed with the Melbourne Stars on Thursday for a one-year Big Bash League deal, but he said at international level he was happy for his focus to remain on the longer forms of the game. Asked whether he was disappointed not to be part of the 30-man group, Pattinson said: "Not really, I suppose where I am with my cricket now there's a big emphasis on me playing the longer formats of the game - Test cricket and one-day cricket.

"I think, being young, it's pretty hard to juggle all three forms of the game at my age. I'm just excited to be involved in the one-day and Test team and, look, if the chance comes when I'm a bit older, I'd love to take that. Probably another thing, my performances haven't been too great in Twenty20 cricket of late.

"As a 22-year-old I have found it quite hard to juggle all three forms at the one time, it's quite a lot of pressure on you. For me it's probably easier to go back to the two formats and concentrate on that while I'm young and inexperienced."

Pattinson remains part of Australia's one-day international plans and was named in the squad to take on Pakistan in the UAE in three ODIs starting next month. Pattinson and the offspinner Nathan Lyon were two of the most surprising omissions from the World T20 expanded group, after both appeared to be in the selectors' plans for the short format earlier this year.