Saker concerned Pattinson could be 'underdone'

James Pattinson's state coach David Saker has raised concerns that the fast bowler could be "underdone" ahead of a possible return to the Test team for the first time in more than 18 months. Pattinson was named in Australia's 13-man squad for the day-night Test in Adelaide and may be competing for a place in the XI with Peter Siddle and Steve O'Keefe after the retirement of Mitchell Johnson.

On Thursday, Pattinson admitted he was surprised by the call-up, which came after he collected four wickets in each of his first two Sheffield Shield matches of the summer. He is still adjusting to a newly remodelled side-on action after suffering from two severe back injuries over the past two years. Pattinson's most recent Test was in Cape Town in March 2014, and he has played just five first-class games since then.

After failing to take a wicket in two ODIs in England in September he was left out of the Test squad for the tour of Bangladesh, which was ultimately cancelled. Although Pattinson has shown some encouraging signs during the start of the summer his Victoria coach, Saker, said he would be worried about Pattinson's ability to get through a Test if the conditions were as batsman-friendly as they were in Perth.

"I would have concerns if they produced another wicket like they did in the week just gone," Saker told the Sydney Morning Herald. "If he's in the field for a really long period of time and bowling spells I'm not sure he's ready for that yet.

"I think their hand's been forced a little bit by what happened to Mitch. I hope he goes well but I'm a little bit concerned he's underdone. He hasn't got any history of putting lots of games together. When you don't have that you've always got questions, I'll always doubt people who can't play four or five Shield games in a row - how can they get through two or three Test matches?"

However, Saker agreed that the selectors had little choice but to pick Pattinson due to the lack of other options around the country, with other potential Test bowlers such as Nathan Coulter-Nile and Jason Behrendorff battling injuries. Pattinson has played 13 Tests and has collected 51 wickets at 27.07, but those appearances have been punctuated by long injury lay-offs.

Pattinson is now 25 and if his body has developed to the stage where he can string matches together, he could form part of Australia's long-term Test attack with Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood. Asked on Thursday whether he could put his injury problems behind him, Pattinson was hopeful but said he would not stop himself bowling as fast as possible.

"I hope so, I suppose I don't want to put the mocker on myself," Pattinson told reporters in Melbourne. "I'm doing everything possible to stop myself from getting injury. Most people who know me know that I go 100 miles an hour all the time. If I get injured, I get injured. There's not much you can do about it. All you can do is prepare the best possible way."

But there is every chance that Pattinson will find himself carrying the drinks at Adelaide Oval, with his state team-mate Siddle also in the squad having been named 12th man for the first two Tests against New Zealand. There is also the possibility that a two-man spin attack will be deployed, with Steve O'Keefe's outstanding pink-ball record earning him a call-up.

"If I was Sidds and missed out I'd probably be pretty disappointed too," Pattinson said. "It's good that's there's good competition. I'm just really rapt to be in squad to be honest - I probably wasn't expecting it. If I don't get selected so be it, I'll just keep pushing and putting my name forward."