Amid all the uncertainty about Australia's pacemen, David Saker is adamant the time has come for James Pattinson to make his Test cricket comeback.
Mitchell Starc's ankle injury, plus concerns about the availability of Josh Hazelwood and Peter Siddle, means Australia will take a rejigged bowling lineup into the first Test against the West Indies.
Injuries have kept Pattinson out of the Test XI since March last year, but he was 12th man for the day-night Test against New Zealand in Adelaide.
"He's ready, there's no doubt about that, but there were obviously concerns that he hasn't played enough cricket," Saker said.
"He's in a really good space and I'm really excited for him.
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"It is probably right on time for him now."
Last month, Saker said Pattinson needed more Shield games before he should be considered for the Test squad.
That prompted Australian coach Darren Lehmann to say Saker should focus on running the Victorian team.
Then Pattinson was rested from the Bushrangers team and Saker said it was the decision of the national program, not the Victorians.
Saker also was critical of the national selectors on Tuesday, saying it was "ridiculous" they had brought Nathan Coulter-Nile into the Test squad for this month's opening match against the West Indies in Hobart.
But he was delighted they had included Victorian paceman Scott Boland as cover for the other pacemen in the squad.
Saker said one of Boland's great strengths is being able to bowl the same delivery, repeatedly.
"Any player who can do that in Test cricket has had good success," he said.
He and selector Rod Marsh are definitely in agreement on one matter - they cannot wait to have Pattinson back in the Test lineup.
"It will be nice to see Patto back to where he was," Marsh said.
"He's a boy that once he steps over that boundary rope, you'd rather have him on your side than theirs.
"He's a beauty."
