One of the key pieces of Australia’s Ashes pace-brigade for next summer looks to be falling into place after tearaway James Pattinson was today named to make his long-awaited return to the Sheffield Shield.

Pattinson hasn’t played a first-class match since Australia’s second Test against New Zealand almost a year ago but has been picked in a 13-player squad to face South Australia in Adelaide on Friday.

The 26-year-old has been eased back from serious shin and back injuries this summer, playing five games for the Melbourne Renegades in the KFC Big Bash League, before sending down 13 overs for Victoria’s Futures League side last month.

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Pattinson has also been in lethal form in Victorian Premier Cricket, smashing 131 (his second ton of the year) and snaring 6-42 for Dandenong in the same match.

His return spells good news for Australia as they look to have Pattinson, Mitch Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins fit and firing for next summer’s Ashes.

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Cummins, who has played in all 10 of Australia’s ODIs this summer, is expected to play his first Shield game for NSW since the 2011 final after Australia’s KFC T20 INTL series against Sri Lanka.

Meanwhile, the Bushrangers also welcome back three more internationals to their Shield squad, as they look to atone for their last-start innings-and-77-run hiding at the hands of the Blues.

Fresh off their Australia 0-2 Chappell-Hadlee Trophy series loss in New Zealand, stand-in one-day international captain Aaron Finch and fellow squad member Marcus Stoinis both come back for Victoria.

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Fast-bowler Chris Tremain, who made his international 50-over debut on Australia’s Qantas Tour of South Africa in October, also returns after missing Victoria’s match against NSW.

Young batsman Will Pucovski has been left out after suffering concussion while fielding on day two during his debut Shield match against the Blues.

Queensland, who named their squad to play NSW at the SCG yesterday, will be boosted by the return of recent ODI debutant Sam Heazlett.

Victoria squad to play SA: Cameron White (C), Scott Boland, Dan Christian, Travis Dean, Aaron Finch, Evan Gulbis, Sam Harper, Marcus Harris, Jon Holland, James Pattinson, Rob Quiney, Marcus Stoinis, Chris Tremain

Queensland squad to play NSW: Chris Hartley (c), Joe Burns, Jason Floros, Peter Forrest, Cameron Gannon, Peter George, Sam Heazlett, Matthew Kuhnemann, Marnus Labuschagne, Michael Neser, Mark Steketee, Sam Truloff, Jack Wildermuth.