Aussie Pattinson jumps the queue as selectors ignore Hoggard and Co

The extraordinary rise of Darren Pattinson from Melbourne grade cricket to the Victoria state side at 28, and then to Nottinghamshire and England’s provisional Champions Trophy squad on the back of his English background, was completed with his call-up for Friday's second npower Test.

Net gain: Broad is flying but there are fears over Sidebottom and Anderson

England had earlier added Chris Tremlett to the squad to take on South Africa at Headingley because of fears that Sidebottom, troubled by a back condition, was struggling and were then forced to turn in the most unlikely direction when Anderson reported a stiff back.

Pattinson, 30 next month, has played just 11 first-class matches — six of them since his arrival at Trent Bridge this season — but has impressed everyone at Notts with swing bowling that has earned him 29 first-class wickets at an average of 20.

It is unlikely that he will play on Friday but he would be a natural replacement for the swing of Anderson, who has a worrying history of back trouble.

The news is as much a surprise for who England did not call up as for their decision to plump for a man who moved to Australia when he was six.

Matthew Hoggard must be worried about his future England prospects if he cannot earn a recall on his home ground when two swing bowlers are injured, while England also overlooked Steve Harmison, Simon Jones and Sajid Mahmood, who have all impressed in county cricket this season.

Surprise selection: Pattinson has received an unexpected call

Sidebottom and Anderson bowled 102 overs between them over the last three days of the drawn first Test at Lord’s, and that must be a contributory factor in their fitness. It also leaves England with much to ponder ahead of Friday's game, quite a contrast to the continuity which saw them pick the same side for the previous six Tests.

The uncertainty could hand Paul Collingwood a reprieve with the only guarantee being that Andrew Flintoff will play a Test match for the first time since he captained England to a 5-0 defeat in the Ashes almost 19 months ago.

Michael Vaughan’s decision to announce that Flintoff will play and bat at seven not only ends England’s historic unchanged run but also throws up a number of selection posers with implications beyond this four-match series.

It seems that if Sidebottom and Anderson recover they will play as part of a five-man attack, with Collingwood dropped and wicketkeeper Tim Ambrose promoted to six ahead of Flintoff, who will be given licence to attack at seven.

But if either is ruled out, and there must be particular concerns over Sidebottom, then England may well give Collingwood one more chance, move Ambrose to eight and rely on four mainline bowlers, with Tremlett and Pattinson missing out.

It seems strange to regard Flintoff’s position as immovable, while Ambrose could bat above or below him, but it signals both the importance of finding a role which maximises Flintoff’s talent and recognises that his batting, at present, is not good enough for the top six.

Oddly enough, Ambrose’s possible promotion could also be the beginning of the end for him. It suggests England are prepared to let him sink or swim, and that if he proves out of his depth at six then Matt Prior, almost good enough to play for England solely as a batsman, will be hurried back.

‘We see Freddie as a long-term part of the team and feel that seven is the perfect place for his style,’ said Vaughan, before adding hurriedly ‘not that we don’t see Ambrose as part of our long-term plans too.

Move over: Ambrose (left) has been pushed up to six to accommodate the return of Andrew Flintoff

'It’s just at this stage six is quite high for Flintoff. We want him to go out and express himself. Given the opportunity, he can take the game away from the opposition in that position.’

Reading between the lines, Flintoff is indispensable, Ambrose is not. Not that Vaughan was short of encouragement for his keeper, under pressure on the back of his poor one-day series and failure with the bat at Lord’s even though he scored a hundred and two 50s in his first six Tests.

‘If Ambrose plays at six, I’m very confident he can score runs there,’ said Vaughan. ‘Sometimes getting pushed up the order can be just the confidence boost you need.

'Only two innings ago he scored a really good 67 against New Zealand and seems to be hitting the ball well in the nets. He didn’t have a great one-day series and that’s why people are talking about him but I think he’s looking comfortable in Test cricket.’

This will be Vaughan’s 50th Test as captain, four short of Mike Atherton’s record, and his biggest hope is that Sidebottom, who launched his superlative England comeback here last year, will be alongside him. If not, it will be even more imperative for Flintoff to deliver.

England: Strauss, Cook, Vaughan (capt), Pietersen, Bell, Ambrose, Flintoff, Broad, Sidebottom, Anderson, Panesar.
South Africa: Smith (capt), McKenzie, Amla, Kallis, Prince, De Villiers, Boucher, Morkel, Harris, Steyn, Ntini.
Umpires: D Harper (A), B Bowden (NZ). TV umpire: R Kettleborough (Eng).
Referee: J Crowe (NZ).
TV: Sky Sports 1 from 10.30am.