Fit-again James Pattinson ready to seize Test chance

“It’s been a successful team as we’ve seen the last couple of weeks in Australia, so it’s great to be a part of that squad”.

Pattinson ripped out the first five New Zealand second innings wickets in the space of 21 balls and it seemed a new pace sensation had arrived.

Khawaja (hamstring) will miss the historic day-night Adelaide Test and is likely to be absent for the first clash against West Indies.

“I think in the Shield game they played there earlier with the pink ball they left a little bit of grass and I think from all reports that ball held up pretty well compared to the one out there on that pretty hard wicket at the MCG we played on (against Queensland last month)”, Pattinson said.

The Victorian was overlooked for Hazlewood for the start of the Test summer, and now the veteran has a new challenger in close friend Pattinson.

“We’ll wait until we see the wicket… but we’re seriously looking at it”.

Insiders have noted the improvement in O’Keefe’s game since his only appearance in the baggy green, against Pakistan in Dubai past year.

“I’ve played three pink-ball games now, and they’ve all been at Adelaide Oval”.

“I’m doing everything possible to stop myself from getting injuries so I’d like to think I’ll get a good run at it now but you never know”.

It could also favour the seamers with players still unsure what the pink ball could do under lights.

Pattinson, 25, hasn’t played a Test in over a year since featuring against South Africa in Cape Town in 2014.

The precocious Pattinson is seemingly locked in a battle with Bushrangers teammate Peter Siddle for Johnson’s spot in the team.

Paceman Josh Hazlewood, who bowled 38 overs in the drawn Perth Test, might be given a rest for the in-form Siddle to come in.

Selector Rod Marsh said that O’Keefe had been on their radar for a while, and stated that the 30-year old was chosen due to unfamiliar conditions for the special Test match in Adelaide.

“It is as robust because it will get coming in at 4 the circumstances they approach they have been. Starcy had that the other day when he was bowling fast the other day so you try to be relaxed and get that rhythm”.

The 32-year-old joins his all-rounder brother in the squad after a string of other candidates to replace Usman Khawaja failed to impress in Sheffield Shield matches over the weekend.

But Lehmann said Marsh was highly regarded by the selectors and that his experience in playing 15 Tests across seven series was invaluable.