Harmison attacks Pattinson's surprise England selection

13 April 2012

England discard Steve Harmison last night questioned the shock selection of fast bowler Darren Pattinson.

While Pattinson, plucked from obscurity for the second Test against South Africa at Headingley, was celebrating his first England wicket yesterday thanks to a dubious lbw decision, Harmison was asking how he got into the side in the first place.

Surprise: Darren Pattinson with his Test cap

The Notts seamer, 29, took 1-62 in 16 overs on his debut as England - even with the returning Andrew Flintoff - struggled to stop the tourists building a winning position.

Harmison, who took 4-102 in Durham's 10- wicket win over Surrey yesterday - said: 'I've nothing against Darren Pattinson. But he must have something special for the selectors to let him leapfrog over Matthew Hoggard and the rest.

'If Pattinson is the next in line, there will be a lot of other bowlers out there thinking "What has he done that we haven't?" The amount of money the ECB have pushed into young bowlers, taking them to Chennai and the Academy - are we saying they aren't good enough?'

Full of heart: England bowler Steve Harmison

'I have no axe to grind. Of course, I'm desperate to get back to playing for England, I am certain my career is not over.

'But, if England wanted a kiss-the-deck rather than a bang-it-in bowler, clearly I wouldn't have been first choice.'

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