Victorian withdrawn from squad to tour Bangladesh due to inflammation in his back
His stint at Notts followed a strong end to the 2016-17 Shield season where he took 24 wickets at 17 and averaged almost 35 with the bat as his Bushrangers side won a third straight title.
Paceman James Pattinson has been ruled out of the Qantas Tour of Bangladesh due to inflammation in his back.The 27-year-old Pattinson has been in career-best form since returning to first-class cricket in the second half of last summer.
A Cricket Australia spokesperson said the move to withdraw the Victorian from the 14-man squad is a precautionary measure aimed at allowing him best preparation for the Ashes this summer.
Pattinson will continue light duties and is expected to resume full training loads in around four weeks.
Tasmanian Jackson Bird has replaced Pattinson in the squad to tour Bangladesh.
The spokesperson said the inflammation in Pattinson's back is around the area where he has previously suffered a stress fracture. While there is no stress fracture on this occasion, he has been withdrawn as a precaution to allow him to recover in time for the summer.
Earlier on Saturday, national selectors announced that uncapped leg-spinner Mitchell Swepson had been added to the 14-man squad for his second overseas trip with the Test side after he was a shock inclusion for the tour of India earlier this year.
Playing for Nottinghamshire in English county cricket this winter, Pattinson took 32 wickets in five first-class matches, including two five-wicket hauls, a best return of 5-29, and a miserly average of just 12.06.
He has also been more than handy with the bat, pressing a growing case to be considered as a genuine allrounder. He scored 197 runs in the County Championship at 49.25 and passed fifty twice for a high of 89 not out.
The loss of Pattinson comes after fellow quick Mitchell Starc was ruled out of the two-Test series two months ago due to a foot injury.
The bowling load in Bangladesh will be carried by quicks Josh Hazlewood, Pat Cummins and Bird as well as spinners Nathan Lyon, Ashton Agar and Swepson.
The news continues a rollercoaster few days for Bird, who had hoped he would edge out Swepson to win the final bowling spot in the squad.
The announcement of Australia's original touring party two months ago came with the proviso that an additional bowler would be added to replace the injured Starc.
Selectors had planned to announce their final Test squad member following the scheduled Australia A tour of South Africa in July and August, where Bird, Chadd Sayers, Chris Tremain and Swepson were set to lead the bowling attack.
But the recent pay dispute and consequent abandonment of the A tour meant that that announcement came on Saturday instead and Swepson got the nod ahead of Bird.
But just a few hours later came the news that Bird had in fact earned a spot in the squad in place of Pattinson.
Australia in Bangladesh 2017
AUSTRALIA TEST SQUAD: Steve Smith (c), David Warner (vc), Ashton Agar, Jackson Bird, Hilton Cartwright, Pat Cummins, Peter Handscomb, Josh Hazlewood, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Glenn Maxwell, Matthew Renshaw, Mitchell Swepson, Matthew Wade
FIXTURES
18 August Australia arrive
22-23 August Tour match, Fatullah
27-31 August First Test, Dhaka
4-8 September Second Test, Chittagong
