Fit-again paceman Jason Behrendorff says he would love to play Sheffield Shield cricket this summer if his BBL return goes to plan.
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Behrendorff has been plagued by serious back injuries related to a recurrent lumber stress fracture since 2015, and last October opted to undergo major spinal surgery.
It was the same operation that saved the career of James Pattinson, and Behrendorff made a successful playing return with club side Subiaco-Floreat.
Behrendorff, who was touted as a future Test star after snaring 9-37 in a Shield innings against Victoria in 2017, is set to be fit for the start of the Perth Scorchers' BBL campaign next month.
The 30-year-old has been given the green light to play as many as three BBL matches per week.
If his body holds up during the BBL campaign, Behrendorff could be back in Shield ranks for the first time since 2017.
"If it all goes well, I'd love to consider to put a red ball back in my hand," Behrendorff said after training on Thursday.
"But the Big Bash is first, and I've got to get through that. My body has got to continue to play ball so to speak and give me a chance to keep doing what I love doing."
Behrendorff hopes a technique tweak will reduce the chances of him suffering another back injury.
"I have tinkered with a few things to get myself in slightly different positions," said Behrendorff, who has played 11 ODIs and seven T20s for Australia.
"I can hopefully go forward as opposed to a little bit on the side. It's taken a fair bit of getting used to.
"That's where the match practice with Subi-Floreat has been so beneficial, because it's so different to the nets.
"I really feel like I'm starting to get that freedom back, and just feel like I can bowl again now."
With WA's squad forced to quarantine after returning from the Shield hub in South Australia, Behrendorff says he's barely seen any of his Scorchers teammates.
"I've only seen Richo (Jhye Richardson) for the last nearly two months," Behrendorff said.
"I haven't seen the rest of my team for a long time. It will be really nice to see them again. We get back together on Tuesday for the first time as a full squad."
Richardson, who underwent another round of surgery on his troublesome right shoulder in May, is also expected to be fit for the BBL campaign, giving Perth's pace stocks a major boost.
Australian Associated Press
