Pattinson makes successful Australia A return

Pace ace James Pattinson reminded Australian fans and selectors what they’ve been missing for more than three years as he starred on the opening day of Australia A's four-day clash with Sussex.

Pattinson claimed 3-38 from 10 overs to help reduce the hosts to 5-118 on a rain-reduced day in Arundel.

Jackson Bird (1-26) and Michael Neser (1-10) were the other wicket-takers but the day belonged to Pattinson, the injury-plagued Victorian who has fought back to be playing his first game in Australian colours since his last Test against New Zealand in February 2016.

The right-armer bowled with his trademark pace and hostility, and although his radar was slightly off to begin with, he looked more menacing the longer the day went.

QUICK SINGLE One day at a time for patient Pattinson

He picked up his first wicket with the last ball of his sixth over, Sussex opener Varun Chopra lbw for 30, to have figures of 1-36 before tea.

But he was better after the break. Sussex captain Luke Wells was dropped at second slip by Joe Burns but by the end of the over Pattinson had uprooted his off-stump.

He finished the day with a lovely delivery that took the outside edge through to Marcus Harris at third slip.

It was a promising sign for Pattinson, Test captain Tim Paine and on-deck national selector Trevor Hohns, who must be liking what they're seeing with the first Ashes Test in Birmingham less than a month away.

James Pattinson back in Australian colours // Getty

An unwanted mixture of rain and bad light delayed the start of the play by four hours to permit just 33 overs on Sunday, but before the teams arrived at the picturesque venue the visitors were forced into making two changes to the XI picked the day prior.

Wicketkeeper-batter Matt Wade and allrounder Mitch Marsh were set to bat No.5 and No.6 respectively for the A side before injuries to Usman Khawaja and Marcus Stoinis in the World Cup loss to South Africa in Manchester on Saturday saw them parachuted into Australia's camp for the semi-final against England.

Wade and Marsh were replaced by Queensland pair Joe Burns and Michael Neser, with fast bowler Chris Tremain the only reserve player left in the squad thatat has also lost Peter Handscomb to national duties.

After Wells won the toss and elected to bat, the new-ball pair of Hazlewood and Pattinson were guilty of overpitching in their opening spells.

Sussex openers Philip Salt and Copra struck six fours between them in the first 10 overs and brought up their 50 partnership in the 11th, with the Australians yet to bowl a maiden over.

But as the high-octane engines in the annual Festival of Speed roared in the distance, it was time for Australia A's speedsters to put the foot down.

It was Bird who captured the initial breakthrough when Salt slapped a full ball to Hazlewood at mid-off in the 14th over.

Seven balls later Pattinson struck to remove Chopra to reduce the hosts to 2-73 and finished the shortened afternoon session with his side's first maiden of the day.

Paine rotated his quicks in the final session, with Neser castling No.4 Laurie Evans with a beauty hat clipped the top of the stumps before destroyed the woodwork to dismiss Evans.

Pattinson's third wicket, Anesh Kapil caught by Harris, capped off a great day for Australia A, who will look to wrap up the final five wickets as quickly as possible on Monday and get about batting.

Australia A tour of the UK

Get live scores and all the latest news from Australia A's tour of the UK on cricket.com.au and the CA Live app

Australia A one-day squad: Travis Head (c), Matthew Wade, Will Pucovski, Peter Handscomb, Mitch Marsh (vc), D'Arcy Short, Kurtis Patterson, Ashton Agar, Michael Neser, James Pattinson, Josh Hazlewood (vc), Sean Abbott, Andrew Tye

Australia A four-day squad: Tim Paine (c), Marcus Harris, Kurtis Patterson, Will Pucovski, Travis Head (vc), Peter Handscomb, Matthew Wade, Mitch Marsh, Michael Neser, Jon Holland, James Pattinson, Jackson Bird, Josh Hazlewood (vc), Chris Tremain

One-day fixtures:

June 20: Australia A beat Northamptonshire by six wickets

June 23: Australia A beat Derbyshire by seven wickets

June 25: Australia A v Worcestershire, match abandoned

June 30: Australia A beat Gloucestershire by five wickets

July 2: Australia A beat Gloucestershire by nine runs

Four-day fixtures:

July 7-10: Australia A v Sussex, Arundel

July 13-16: Australia A v England Lions, Canterbury

July 23-26: Australia v Australia A, Hampshire