Australia head coach Justin Langer has all but confirmed that right-arm pacer James Pattinson will feature in the playing XI for the second Test against New Zealand beginning Boxing Day at the Melbourne Cricket Ground .

“I am really looking forward to seeing Patto bowl and bowl well in this Boxing Day Test, which is his home ground as well,” cricket.com.au quoted Langer as saying on Saturday.“James Pattinson was 12th man in the last game and I hope what I have shown in the last 18 months is that we have been really consistent in our selection.

Pattinson last played a Test for Australia in the five-match Ashes series in England. He featured in the Leed’s Test in August where he managed to pick three wickets in the game.

Australia had added Peter Siddle in their 13-man squad for the Boxing Day Test after Josh Hazlewood was ruled out of the game with an injury.The Tim Paine-led side currently hold a 1-0 lead in the three-match series having won the first Test by 296 runs in Perth.