Young Australian fast bowler James Pattinson is aiming to start bowling again next week as he continues his recovery from a foot injury.
Pattinson burst onto the Test scene earlier this summer with 25 wickets in four matches at 18.12 but has had to sit out the final two games against India after scans showed he was developing the early stages of a stress fracture in his left foot.
The 21-year-old says he hasn’t felt any pain for more than two weeks and is hoping to line-up in Victoria’s domestic one-day match against South Australia on February 7.
“It’s coming along really well at the moment,” Pattinson told AAP.
“I’ve had no pain in my foot since I’ve got back. The first couple of days it was a bit tender and sore but now it’s fine. I haven’t felt it for almost two and a half weeks.
“Everything’s going well, I’ve started running and I’ve been swimming and that sort of stuff.
“I start bowling next week which is good and I’m looking forward to it.”
If Pattinson can successfully return to the Bushrangers line-up for the clash with the Redbacks, he’s hoping it’ll be enough to have him back in the Australian set-up for the one-day international against India at the Adelaide Oval on February 12.
“That is the aim. I think they said to me last week it’d probably be three to four weeks,” he said.
“I’m just trying to get back and do everything I can to get back and play in the one-dayers.”
Pattinson dismissed speculation his boots had played a role in his injury, citing a high workload he’d never before experienced in his career as the most probable cause.
But while disappointed to have sustained the injury, Pattinson said pushing his body to its limits at Test level had been worth the hurt.
“I was definitely disappointed but I was just happy it happened,” he said.
“I could’ve still been playing in Victoria, hadn’t established myself and then got injured there.
“That would have put me right back with a lot of the other blokes but it was good to just get the opportunity and prove I can match it at that level.
“It’s going to help my case when I’m back fit and trying to get back into the team.”
