AUSTRALIAN fast bowler James Pattinson plans to be back bowling next weekend.
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He will decide later this week whether that return will be with the Melbourne Renegades in Ballarat.
Pattinson is determined to be in action for the Renegades’ Big Bash League season launch on December 20 but, under Cricket Australia guidance, remains carefully plotting his comeback to the game from a back injury.
The Renegades’ practice match on Sunday, as part of a Ballarat-based training camp, would offer Pattinson the chance to ease back into bowling duties without too much match pressure.
Pattinson will first travel to a high-performance centre in Brisbane with fellow quicks Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc this week for training.
All three will also spend some time with the Australian Ashes team as it prepares for the third Test.
Pattinson said Ballarat was a great option, but so might playing with his Victorian Premier Cricket club Dandenong.
“It depends what’s best,” Pattinson said.
“We’ll probably monitor my work out during the week.
“I’m going up (to Brisbane) where we’ll work with biomechanics, who monitor your action.
“We’re going to spend the week up there.”
Pattinson was in Ballarat on Saturday with Dandenong for a premier cricket “bush bash” Twenty20 triple-header with St Kilda and
Greenvale Kangaroos at Eastern Oval.
It was Pattinson’s second week back in match play after three months sidelined with a stress fracture in his lower back.
His time at the crease was not lasting. Pattinson made one and seven runs in the two matches.
He can hardly wait to officially pick up the ball again – even more so when listening to Australia’s strong form in the Ashes between taking up the bat for Dandenong.
“It’s good to be back among the boys playing cricket,” Pattinson said.
“Everything’s going along well and I’ve been back bowling well the past couple of weeks in training ... I’d like to be back bowling but it’s good to be playing with Dandenong, where I played a lot of my cricket when I was younger.
“Now I can help some young bowlers and we’ve got some good young bowlers.”
• Melbourne Renegades’ Wipe Off Five – Ballarat Bush Bash camp arrives in town on Friday.
Players will be involved in school clinics, an open training session and, on Sunday, practice matches against the South Australian-based Darren Lehmann Cricket Academy.
melanie.whelan@fairfaxmedia.com.au