Botham leads criticism of selectors

Nottinghamshire seamer Pattinson, 29, was plucked from obscurity on the eve of the second Test against South Africa at Headingley last week and his sudden call-up has dominated the inquest into the 10-wicket loss with confusion over who had the final say in his selection for the match.

Ian Botham led the chorus of condemnation for the selectors, claiming their decisions were "appalling, embarrassing and downright wrong" in his Daily Mirror column, adding: "The England team selection on Friday knocked me sideways."

He added: "I feel very sorry for Darren Pattinson, but I don't have any sympathy for the selectors who lost all sense of perspective and embarrassed English cricket.

"It was the most illogical, pathetic and diabolical piece of selecting I've seen. I want to hear a proper explanation for this, as do the England cricket fans around the country."

Pattinson was the first new cap since the current selection panel of Geoff Miller, James Whitaker and Ashley Giles took over.

Geoff Boycott was also unimpressed with what they came up with as they looked for a swing bowler.

Boycott wrote in the Daily Telegraph: "He bowled steadily and didn't let anyone down. It is not his fault that he is at the middle of this schemozzle. But this was one of the first big decisions taken by England's new selection panel, and they got it badly wrong.

"They need to admit their mistake and realise that wild hunches are no way to build an international cricket team."

Nasser Hussain has called for someone to take responsibility for the selection, saying in the Daily Mail: "There has been a bit too much passing the buck since England were beaten at Headingley. Geoff Miller is in charge of selection but the captain of any team should always take responsibility, even if there were other people to blame behind the scenes."