Ashes bowler Steve Harmison says England selectors have dealt a slap in the face to the nation's bowlers by picking unproven Australian quick Darren Pattinson for the second Test with South Africa.
Pattinson, a fast bowler with Victorian club side Dandenong who has played five first-class matches with Victoria and six with English county Nottinghamshire, was plucked from relative obscurity to replace injured speedster Ryan Sidebottom.
Harmison – who was dropped from the Test side earlier this year – was one of several experienced bowlers overlooked by selectors, and he’s not happy.
"The amount of money the ECB (England and Wales Cricket Board) have pushed into young bowlers, taking them to Chennai and the Academy – are we saying the young bowlers aren't good enough?'' Harmison told Agence France-Presse.
"I haven't seen him (Pattinson) bowl – I was asleep when we played them. But good luck to him, he has taken his chance. If he deserves it I'm not sure, but good luck to him.''
After England was bowled out for 203 after being sent in, Pattinson took the only wicket to fall on a rain-shortened day two.
South Africa ended the day at 4-322, leading by 119, with Ashwell Prince notching his second century in as many Tests.
