Darren Pattinson has underlined his desire to add to his solitary England cap following media reports questioning his plans to play club cricket in Australia this winter.

Pattinson signed a two-year deal with Notts in April and has played a major part in helping them to the top of the LV County Championship.

He is also contracted to Victoria for the winter but will put his club career on hold if he is given a chance to play for England.

“The ECB have always been aware that Darren has a contract with Victoria and he’ll play for them as an overseas player this winter,” said Notts Director of Cricket Mick Newell.

“At this moment in time, his only winter commitments are with Victoria but if he is selected to play for England then obviously that will change.

“Darren is certainly not ruling himself out of possible selection for England and we are already looking to extend his contract at Notts.

“He has a long-term future in this country and he can combine that with his winter commitments in Australia.”

Pattinson has taken 29 LV County Championship wickets at 20.86 and is keen to continue his rich vein of form for club and country.

“It’s worked out well for me at Notts and when I signed my only target was to prove that I could cut it at county level,” said Pattinson.

“Things have moved on a lot quicker than I expected and I’ve set myself new goals which include earning further recognition for England.

“I’ve got a young family who have travelled halfway around the world with me and they have found the last month really difficult. The media interest that has surrounded my selection was new to us and something that, naively, I didn’t expect.

“I now need to focus on things that I can control and it’s been shown that if I perform well for Notts and conditions are favourable then I can force my way into the selectors’ thoughts. It all starts with club form and I will be doing everything that I can to produce good performances for Notts and Victoria.”

Head of the National Selectors Geoff Miller said: “We will maintain regular contact with Darren. We’re trying to create a squad here and Darren is very much a part of it. He was picked for a very specific reason at Headingley.

“International cricket is very intense and it’s no good just having a team any more. You have to have a squad because there’s a big danger of burnout.”