The tall NSW batsmen made an unbeaten 114 in his last Test innings when Australia wrapped up a comprehensive win over Sri Lanka in February.

However with the return of Steve Smith and Dave Warner from suspension, plus the recent rise of Marnus Labuschagne, Patterson is like most Australians and watching the action on television.

The 26-year-old was part of the Australia A tour to England but missed out on a place in the Test squad.

Labuschagne wasn't part of the tour and instead impressed selectors with his Country cricket form before going on to make 280 in four innings since coming in as Smith's concussion replacement in the second Test.

Patterson is hoping his first English experience will put him in better stead to get back into the Test side.

"It's obviously a little disappointing with how the Australia A tour in the UK ended but I took some really good learnings out of it and picked up a couple of key points about playing in England," Patterson said.

"I was my first experience over there and I'm looking forward to what is going to be a really exciting summer in Australia."

However he doesn't want the drive to get back there take over his game, and instead is looking to make his form for NSW speak for itself.

Patterson is the youngest player to make a century in the history of the Sheffield Shield, after making 157 on debut for the Blues as an 18-year-old in 2011, but it wasn't until last season that an opportunity with the Australian side eventuated.

"Being with the Blues now is all I can focus on and I've learnt over my career that worrying about Australian selection doesn't work too well so I'm just focusing on what I can control and at the moment that's trying t win games for NSW and put the Blues in as many positions as I can," he said.

Patterson and Blues rookie Param Uppal spent three days in the Riverina as part of the annual Cricket NSW Country Blitz.

With stops in Narrandera, Leeton, Cootamundra and Temora heading a final day in Wagga on Thursday, Patterson has been impressed with the talent in the region.

"We've seen some really talented cricketers," he said.

"We even attended a training session on the first day and saw some really talented guys and also a couple of really talented girls.

"It's really exciting and while they are really young and have their whole careers in front of them they are showing some good promise at the moment.

"Fingers crossed they can find that next Australian cricketer."

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