Even he admits it's only been one day but it's hard not get excited seeing tearaway fast bowler James Pattinson back in full flight wearing his whites and a baggy green cap, even if it's not the Baggy Green.

Pattinson was the pick of the bowlers for Australia A on day one of their four-day clash with Sussex in Arundel, capturing 3-38 from 10 hostile overs with the red Dukes ball.

You wouldn't know by the way he sent them down on Sunday, but it's been close to three-and-a-half years since Pattinson last represented his country.

QUICK SINGLE Pattinson impresses on Australian return

But that last appearance, the second Test in Christchurch against New Zealand in February 2016, was the start of wretched run of back injuries that led to the right-armer undergoing radical back surgery in a last-ditch attempt to save his Test career.

The move was made with this year's Ashes in England in mind and if he can avoid any setbacks in the next month he looks set to accomplish that goal.

It was vintage Pattinson who spearheaded the Australia A attack – pace, swing, movement, the odd four-ball mixed in with an unplayable delivery, not to mention the competitiveness that's come to define him.

However, now is not the time to start thinking too far ahead. Pattinson isn't.

"It was good to get out there," Pattinson told cricket.com.au after stumps on day one with Sussex 5-118.

"It's been one day so I'll take every day as it comes."

Pattinson makes successful Australia A return

The 29-year-old was made to wait for his return. It was only four hours in the end due to rain and bad light but it could have been a week had a nasty knock to the thumb he suffered batting in the Sussex County Ground nets on Thursday been more serious.

Fortunately, x-rays cleared the Victorian of any fracture and he was right to take his place in the starting XI and went about practicing what he preached ever since arriving into the Australia A camp.

Pattinson attacked the stumps during his 10 overs that resulted in a plumb lbw, an uprooted off-stump and an outside edge for his three wickets.

Fellow paceman Jackson Bird collected his wicket when a full ball was mistimed to mid-off while Michael Neser bowled an unplayable delivery that shaped in and nipped away to clatter into the woodwork.

"That’s what we've been talking about, that length, challenging the knee roll, getting lb's," Pattinson said.

"If you can bring in all modes of dismissal – lb's, bowled and caught behinds by bowling really good lengths over here and challenging the batter's defence over and over again I think that's the big key to success."

Bird lands and acclimatises on UK soil

But aside from the fuller length the Australians bowled, what impressed Pattinson was the way the bowling attack altered its plans after a shaky start.

Sussex capitalised on anything overpitched by the new-ball attack of Pattinson, Bird and Josh Hazlewood, reaching 0-50 inside 11 overs.

However, once the quicks pulled back their lengths, even by the slightest margin, the wickets arrived and the runs dried up.

And that's what had Pattinson smiling about after play.

"We got driven a little bit and I think we learnt quick, we adapted pretty quick," Pattinson said.

"The ball was a bit wet early on and we probably leaked a few runs early on but we pegged it back nicely and got wickets.

"I think that ability to adapt quite quickly and not let the game drift too far ahead is going to be a big thing here (in England), thinking on your feet, thinking of plans and changing quite quickly if things aren't happening."

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