After a false start in Adelaide, Victorian paceman James Pattinson is desperate to resume his Test career when Australia take on the West Indies in Hobart next week.
Pattinson's career stalled for nearly two years as he battled back and hamstring injuries but he edged closer to a return when he was added to the Australian squad ahead of the third Test against New Zealand.
The 25-year-old was 12th man in Adelaide but the foot injury to fellow quick Mitchell Starc has opened the door for him to reclaim a spot in Australia's attack.
"It's very exciting, hopefully I get the nod, but obviously it's good to be back in the squad," Pattinson said on Friday.
"I'm looking forward to the challenge. "Obviously Josh (Hazlewood) has come off a great last Test. He had a fantastic game and Peter Siddle has got his 200 wickets, so they're both flying at the moment. It would be good to fit in there."
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Pattinson is the obvious replacement for Starc but national selectors also added Western Australian quick Nathan Coulter-Nile to the squad for the opening Test of the series.
Carrying the drinks for the whole Adelaide Test wouldn't have been the ideal warm-up for Pattinson and he was grateful to have been released from his duties to join his Victoria Sheffield Shield teammates in Perth.
He replaced Chris Tremain for the second innings at the WACA and returned figures of 2-31.
"It was really good for me to see the ball carry through," he said.
"There was quite a lot of pace in that wicket, so it was really good for me.
Even though I only had eight overs it was good to see that bounce and carry.
"I've played some continuous cricket over the past six months now and I've been building up. There's nothing better than match practice ... hopefully I can get a good run at it."
