Returning Australian paceman James Pattinson has said that he hopes an overhauled bowling action would help him prevent back injuries in the future as he eyes a return to Test cricket.
Pattinson and axed Test quick Peter Siddle would play for domestic side Melbourne Renegades on Tuesday against Sydney Thunder in the Big Bash League targeting openers Mike Hussey and Jacques Kallis.
The injury-riddled emerging paceman has spent the past three weeks bowling for Premier Cricket outfit Dandenong and said that his next major milestone would be to re-join the Victorian Bushrangers after the Big Bash League, News.com.au reported.
A strong block of Sheffield Shield form could give Pattinson the platform to help spear Australia's attack in the 2015 Ashes tour, but the right-arm quick said that he wasn't looking that far ahead.
Pattinson said that obviously the Ashes series is the most important thing next year, but added that he wants to get back for Victoria before he worries about playing cricket for Australia again.
The pacer claimed that he wants to play some red-ball cricket, adding that he loves doing that and it's his favourite part of the game, the longer format.
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Pattinson revealed that he has been back bowling now for probably four months and has played the last month in grade cricket and added that he has been working pretty hard on his action.
Pattinson, who has taken three five-wicket hauls in 13 Tests, claimed that he had halved the counter-rotations in his delivery stride, significantly lowering the risk of lower back trouble.
Pattinson took four wickets in his last high-level appearance, a winning Test match against South Africa on March 1, the report added.