Test paceman James Pattinson’s comeback from injury was inhibited by Cricket Australia orders not to exceed a set quota of overs, his Victorian captain Cameron White says.

Pattinson was barred by national hierarchy from bowling more than 24 overs in Victoria’s Sheffield Shield defeat to South Australia.

In his first match since suffering a side injury two months ago, Pattinson subsequently bowled 12 overs in each innings, returning 2-36 and 1-56.

The quota not only restricted Pattinson but also the options of captain White as the Bushrangers slipped to a one-wicket loss to the Redbacks on Sunday.

“He only bowled 12 (overs) and 12, that is all he was allowed to bowl,” White said.

“He is our best bowler so you would like to have free restrictions but when you are under guidelines from above, you stick to them.”

White said Pattinson needed more bowling to find his rhythm but the situation was “out of my hands”.

“If I was taking a guess at what James feels he needs is more bowling in the middle to find some more rhythm,” he said.

” … You can bowl as much as you like in the nets but fast bowling, especially with James, is about rhythm and finding a groove.

“The thing is, every time he just about finds that in a spell, he’s bowling two, three or four overs max, then you have got to take him off to look after him to bowl 24 overs across the game.

“It’s probably more frustrating for James to be honest than it is for the team.

“Obviously getting him to play at the next level is definitely the big picture but that is the juggling act I guess James and the selectors and sports science are trying to find.”

White was uncertain what sanction he, as captain, would face if he bowled Pattinson more than the quota.

“I don’t know what is is but I’d imagine it wouldn’t be that pretty, (Cricket Australia high performance manager) Pat Howard probably wouldn’t be too happy with it,” he said.