James Pattinson puts his hand up for a Test recall with a strong performance for Australia A

All eyes are on Australia’s pace stocks for the first Test, with Mitchell Starc taking time away and Josh Hazlewood out of the second T20.

Australia's Mitchell Starc

Firebrand James Pattinson broke down The Wall and eased the pressure on selectors after Mitchell Starc took compassionate leave with the summer fast approaching.

Starc on Saturday left the Australian camp after being informed of an illness in his family, adding further disruption to Justin Langer’s plans for the first Test following the groin injury to David Warner and Josh Hazlewood withdrawing from the second Twenty20 on Sunday night after experiencing back soreness.

But with the uncertainty of Starc’s availability swirling around the selection table, Pattinson gave a generous reminder of his qualities with a starring role on day one of Australia A’s tour match against the Indians at Drummoyne Oval – as Ajinkya Rahane started his tour off on the right foot.

Rahane put his hand up as the man to take over Virat Kohli’s monster workload this series with a splendid 108 as the Indians closed out the day 8-237, blowing out plenty of cobwebs on a sunny Sydney afternoon.

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Mitchell Starc will miss the rest of the T20 series against India. Picture: Getty Images

Starc missed the third one-day international with back and rib complaints, but roared back to form with a typically dangerous 2-34 in the first T20 on Friday night, and a fit-and-firing Starc is among the most feared prospects in cricket.

“There is nothing in the world more important than family and in this case Mitch is no exception,” said coach Justin Langer.

“We will give Mitch all the time he needs and welcome him back into the squad with open arms whenever he feels the time is right for him and his family.”

It is not known how much time Starc will spend on compassionate leave but the first of the Australian team arrives in Adelaide on Wednesday ahead of the first Test, which starts in 10 days.

Pattinson finished the day with 3-58, including the wicket of ‘the New Wall’ Cheteshwar Pujara for 54 just at it seemed the Indian powerhouse was going to reprise his role from two summers ago when he was an immovable object who ground Australia’s bowlers into the ground.

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But after 140 deliveries, Pujara was caught at leg gully by Marcus Harris to become Pattinson’s second victim of the day.

Pattinson, who played in Australia’s last Test match in place of the injured Josh Hazlewood and has a fine Test record with 81 wickets at 26.33 runs apiece, bowled with pace and precision on Sunday as he unsettled the Indians throughout the day.

He knocked over highly rated youngster Privthi Shaw for a duck in a horror start for the tourists, who slumped to 3-40 before a rescue mission led by Pujara and Rahane.

The pair added 76 for the fourth wicket, taking the life out of a spicy wicket.

Meanwhile, Cameron Green continued his push for a Test call-up by impressing with the ball as he continues his comeback from stress fractures in his back.

Green, who has on a strict plan, was restricted to two four-over spells and while wickets weren’t on the menu for the 200cm quick India’s batsman found it impossible to get him away.

James Pattinson was in good form for Australia A. Picture: Phil Hillyard

In total, Green walked off Drummoyne Oval with figures of 0-9 from eight overs.

There remain plenty of question marks about India’s top order, however, with young guns Shaw and Shubman Gill both falling for ducks inside the opening three overs.

While Kohli will inject some much needed life in their middle order, he will do so for just the opening Test – leaving enormous pressure on Rahane and Pujara to do as they did on Sunday.

But as Pujara proved last time on these shores, when he chalked up a tour-high 521 runs after facing an almighty 1258 balls (more than double that of Usman Khawaja, who faced the most of the Australians), he’s more than capable of spending days on end at the crease.

Originally published as James Pattinson puts his hand up for a Test recall with a strong performance for Australia A