Pattinson received considerable press coverage when he was surprisingly selected for the England cricket team in July 2008 for the 2nd Test against South Africa at Headingley.
In January 2007, he made his first-class debut against South Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, capturing four wickets for 87 runs in the first innings.
Employed as a roof-tiler, he sought to further his career as a professional cricketer by signing a two-year contract to play with Nottinghamshire in the English County Championship, commencing in 2008.
The next day, Ryan Sidebottom was ruled out of the team by a back injury, so Pattinson was selected to make his Test debut.
Pattinson's selection was the result of excellent form for Nottinghamshire (29 wickets at an average of just over 20 runs each) in the early part of the 2008 season.
On the second day of that Test he picked up the wicket of Hashim Amla, although TV footage put the soundness of the LBW decision in doubt.
However, injuries to fast bowlers including James led to Darren being picked for the team on most occasions in the later half of the season.
[9] Pattinson's younger brother James has played both Test and ODI cricket for Australia, after making his debut in both forms in 2011.