Kurtis Patterson says the desire to return to Test cricket burns bright, with a goal to take more responsibility with the bat behind his stellar one-day season.
The 32-year-old guided NSW to the 50-over domestic title with a man-of-the-match unbeaten half-century against Tasmania on a tricky Hobart pitch.
He finished the season with 565 runs from eight games at an average of 113, with three centuries.
One of those was 125 not out from 89 deliveries in the final regular-season game to secure a bonus-point win needed to get the Blues into the decider.
Patterson, who played two Tests for Australia in 2019 before being omitted when David Warner and Steve Smith returned from suspension, was dropped from the NSW side a few seasons ago.
"I had to give some thought as to why I was playing and what I wanted out of the game," he said.
"One of the things that came out of that period is I've absolutely got a desire to get back and play cricket for Australia.
"Probably for different reasons. When I was a kid … you do it because it's what every kid wants, you want that baggy green.
"Now, that environment up there looks like such a fun place to play cricket. It looks like a place where I think I'd learn a lot and get better."
Australia romped to a summer Ashes win, but the output of top-six bats Marnus Labuschagne and Cameron Green and next-up Josh Inglis have been put under the microscope.
Patterson is sixth on the Sheffield Shield season run list with 554 at an average of 34.62, including a career-high 173 not out against South Australia.
Two of his one-day centuries came in run chases in must-win games for NSW.
Patterson, who skippered the Blues in the final few games in the absence of Jack Edwards, said he had taken on more responsibility with the bat and felt in the best form of his career.
"I wanted to try to put myself in a position where I'm there or thereabouts at the end of the game when it really matters," he said.
"I've got a lot of starts over my career and haven't been able to go on and score hundreds in this format.
"That was something I looked at and it has been nice to rectify."
