Patterson was unveiled as the Sixers’ new signing on Tuesday, inking a fresh three-year deal with the club he played a sole match for on debut in 2012.
Born again in T20 cricket with his best Big Bash League season last summer when opening for the Scorchers, Patterson is the only local player to leave the champions ahead of the coming season.
The 29-year-old revealed he wrestled with the decision after first speaking with the Sixers at the end of last summer, before his mind was made up after the birth of son Hayden in April.
“That changes things, it makes you think about where your priorities are,” Patterson told AAP. “Even if we’re playing away over Christmas, it’s just being around over that period. That was most important for me.
“I feel really lucky that I have been able to come from the Scorchers and join the Sixers. I think it is really well known that they are the two most respected clubs in the Big Bash. But also their cultures and their on-field success speaks for itself.”
Patterson is hopeful of opening for the Sixers this summer with the team’s first match against the Scorchers on December 14.
The NSW captain’s return comes as east coast clubs aim to return to big crowds this summer out of Covid, with Sixers memberships relaunched this week.
Patterson is also hopeful a return to more normal travel conditions can help boost his red-ball form. He has not given up hope of adding to his tally of two Tests against Sri Lanka in 2019, boasting an average of 144 for Australia.
Told by national selectors two years ago he just needed to produce runs, Patterson has since endured two summers of inconsistent opportunities due to state border closures.
But with six Sheffield Shield matches scheduled before the BBL and Test summer this year, Patterson is hopeful that can make life easier.
“Having six games and a bunch of one-day games leading into the summer and BBL, it allows you to find your rhythm a bit more,” Patterson said. ”It has felt like it has been really rushed [in recent years] to try and get three games in before Big Bash [last summer].
“But this allows you to work your way into the season and build up so everyone in the country is playing their best cricket by the time the first Test comes. Nationwide everyone will benefit.”