Fast bowler James Pattinson says he’s good to go in Australia’s second one-day international against the West Indies in St Vincent on Sunday.
The only problem is he may find it hard to get back into the side after the team recorded a 64-run win over the Windies in Friday’s first game with the Victorian and Ben Hilfenhaus watching from the sidelines.
“Obviously it’ll be hard to change the team but I’ll definitely be putting my hand up for selection in the second game,” Pattinson told AAP.
Pattinson has been out after straining a buttock muscle in Australia’s second one-day final loss to Sri Lanka in Adelaide on March 6.
But the 21-year-old said the injury wasn’t that bad and his omission from Australia’s past two games had been precautionary more than anything before praising selectors for picking him to tour the West Indies.
“It’s going fine at the moment. I’ve been doing quite a bit and I’m just looking forward to getting back to bowling again,” he said.
“I think because it was such a slight injury, nothing dramatic, that there was an opportunity to come over here with the physios and just try and get back as quick as possible … it was great for the selectors to show that sort of initiative and give me a chance to get over here and get back as quick as possible.”
Whether or not Australia pick Pattinson or Hilfenhaus for the second game, George Bailey believes Friday’s win will be a big boost for the remainder of the series.
Bailey was man-of-the-match for his 48 on debut before the Australians derailed the Windies run chase, claiming six wickets for just seven runs to go one-up in the five-match campaign.
“We learnt a lot,” Bailey said.
“No doubt getting a win is a great little burst of momentum to start the tour.”
Both teams will hold light training sessions at the Arnos Vale Cricket Ground on Saturday to finalise preparations for Sunday’s game which starts at 9.30am (0030 Monday AEDT).
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