Not taking cricket as seriously now - Pattinson

Man of the Match on Test debut against New Zealand, Man of the Match against India in his third Test, it seemed that anything was possible for James Pattinson back in 2011. He was 21 and it was reasonable to hope that by 24 or 25 he would be the leader of Australia's Test attack. Instead, by then he was training greyhounds and embarking on a career as a builder. If nothing else, his time on the sidelines has given him perspective.

There have been injuries to his feet, ribs and hamstrings, but the big problem has been his back. Stress fractures arrived during the 2013 Ashes and flared again in 2014, and he has played only 13 of a possible 48 Tests since his debut. Now, Pattinson has a chance to add to that tally for the first time in 20 months, and he views things differently after his time away from the game.

"I'm probably not taking it as seriously as I did when I was younger," Pattinson said last week in Adelaide after rejoining the Test squad. "It was sort of everything to me, cricket. But now, having been away from the game, I've got a few things outside cricket that I enjoy as well. So I'm really relaxed with my cricket now.

"There's a lot of hobbies, I've just started a Diploma in Building and Construction so that's something that I'm really keen on. I've got a passion for the greyhounds because my brother [Darren] is a greyhound trainer so there's been a lot of early mornings walking greyhounds around while I was in a back brace."

Pattinson did not play against New Zealand in the day-night Test at the Adelaide Oval, but he appears a certain starter for the first Test against West Indies in Hobart starting next Thursday. His opportunity has come at the expense of Mitchell Starc, who suffered a foot injury that has effectively ended his involvement in international cricket for the summer.

Pattinson and Starc made their Test debuts together at the Gabba four years ago, only a fortnight after Pat Cummins also won his baggy green in South Africa. Like Pattinson, Cummins was Man of the Match on debut, while Starc already loomed as a left-arm successor to Mitchell Johnson. The prospect of that trio forming Australia's future Test attack seemed exciting, and inevitable.

Four years on and countless injuries later, Starc has played 25 Tests, Pattinson 13 and Cummins is yet to add to his single appearance. They have only once played together for Australia - in the third ODI against England in September. Less than three months on, Pattinson is the only one of the three who is fit, and he will likely work alongside Josh Hazlewood and Peter Siddle in Hobart.

"There's always opportunities with fast bowlers," Pattinson said on Friday. "Everyone gets injured at some stage during their career. You've just got to be ready to take those opportunities. Our bowling cartel is pretty close, we're always looking out for each other. It's really exciting to see Josh do quite well in the last Test and Pete to get his 200 wickets. It's pretty exciting to hopefully be joining them."

Pattinson, now 25, has tweaked his action to help his back, but he is still confident he can reach similar speeds to when he emerged as an international cricketer. So far this summer Pattinson has 10 Sheffield Shield wickets at 22.80, and Australia will likely look to him as a strike bowler, with Siddle proving in Adelaide he remains a highly effective stock bowler.

Siddle's efforts were especially impressive given the personal loss he suffered during the match - his grandmother died before the third day's play. There were also times during the Test when Siddle seemed to be struggling with a sore back, but he was out in the middle to hit the winning runs on the third evening.

"Sidds is a really strong character," Pattinson said. "There was a lot of support behind him. It was fantastic for him to be out there and hitting the winning runs for Australia, I think that helped him a lot. You could probably see the relief on his face when he did hit those winning runs. He's a strong character and I'm sure he'll be up and about for Hobart.

"He's been a great help for me throughout my career, and not just at the start of my career. Over the last two years when I've been injured he's been a really good sounding board for me and been great."

There is one thing about Siddle, though, that Pattinson hopes will change upon his inclusion in the Test team. Last time they played together in a Test, Siddle batted ahead of Pattinson.

"I bat ahead of Victoria so I'm hoping I can get ahead of him for Australia. We'll probably have a few debates about it, especially after he got the winning runs in Adelaide," Pattinson said, before adding with a smile: "But I think I should be above him."