Darren Who?

OK, I'm a bit out of touch at the moment. I'm up at Royal Birkdale for the Open and, frankly, after the downpours we suffered yesterday I'm still waiting for the mist to evaporate off my glasses. So when I turned on my computer just now to see how the Test match was looking and saw the headline "Pattinson makes debut", I thought "I didn't even realise South Africa had someone called Pattinson in their squad."

But he's one of ours. Or rather, one of Australia's. Darren Pattinson makes his England debut today (drizzle permitting) as a replacement for the injured Ryan Sidebottom, having been listed earlier this morning on Cricinfo as an Australian. He was born in Grimsby, Lincolnshire, but raised in Australia and made his first-class debut for Victoria last year - at the age of 28.

He took five wickets on his debut for Notts this season and I vaguely recall the name, but at the time I probably thought "just another Kolpaker". His first-class record of 40 wickets in 11 matches at an average of 26 does not suggest anything special.

That picture, by the way, is him bowling for Nottinghamshire, not (as I initially thought) for South Africa.

There are two possible explanations for why Darren Pattinson was called up at short notice from Trent Bridge. 1) In these straitened times, the selectors wanted to save on paying mileage to a bowler from a southern club; or 2) Possibly following on from that, the selectors actually meant to call up Darren Gough but hit the wrong number on the speed dial. I suppose there is also a third explanation: that the selectors have seen real promise and think he can do a job.

This is surely one of the most left-field selections ever. Possibly up there with the time that Australia plucked Peter Taylor from obscurity for an Ashes Test, with some people wondering if the selectors had meant Mark Taylor. Taylor took a six-for in his first Test, so maybe Pattinson can have a similarly charmed introduction. This could be the best selectorial hunch since Tom Spedegue won the Ashes for England with his "dropper".

Good luck to him. The true test of whether he is English or Australian will be the post-match interview. If he begins by saying "Ahhhh, look, mate..." then he's a fair dinkum Ocker. But who cares if he's good?

Comments

[Jim]

I just hope that the current selection "strategy" progresses beyond the realms of blackjack - stick, stick, stick, TWIST!

The only reason I can think of for the decision to go for Pattinson over Hoggard (given that the former is no quicker than the latter) is that he will be easier to drop. Had Hoggard returned and bowled well - or even (heaven forbid!) won England the game - it would've left them with a thorny problem for the next Test. (I didn't say it was a good reason.)

[The Pav]

Patrick,

I thought I was being a bit cheeky mocking the few runs Flintoff had made but this selection makes me think perhaps I flattered them.

The guy is a second string bowler for Victoria at best.

Why take four seamers into a game when one isn't up to much. I commented previously about an unhealthy obsession with all rounders and this selection smacks of it. The bowler being added to cover Flintoff in case he breaks down attached to the hope he will magically regaihn the one series of magic he showed when England won the Ashes.

He couldn't be selected on batting form and he nreaks down to often to be a bowler so why was he selected?

It aint rocket science. Six batsmen, a 'keeper and four bowlers. Anything else is a bonus. Flintoff in his current state of form or fitness is not good enough to be selected as either. You don't pick someone because he is nearly good enough in either.

Since no-one else seems to be going to say this, I will point out that Pattinson is not an Australian. Much to the surprise of Australian cricket, he turns out to not have Australian citizenship, though he has grown up here. Not sure how this revelation, and playing for England, will affect his and his younger brother's contracts (The brother played for the under 19's at one point) in Oz cricket now.

[Rob]

Bizarre, but let's try and look through the logic. Tremlett was called up when Sidebottom's back had not healed. Then when Anderson had a scare, they brought in Pattinson. I can only imagine that DP impressed at the nets and would compliment the attack more than Tremlett.

We all know that Headingly is a seamer / swing bowlers paradise, so choosing a bowler like Pattinson / Hoggard to replace Sibo does make sense.

It's a brave decision and I'm perfectly happy to give the guy a chance but do feel that Simon Jones is the better long term option as the 4th fast bowler.

[DeloreanGray]

One of the worst selectorial calls in my lifetime (And I endured the 90's). He says he's never had any ambition to play for England. It's not a club side, It's a slap in the face for every kid who's ever bowled in the backyard wanting to be Botham/ Gough/ Flintoff and would happily cut off their left arm to play for England. Even more to the young lads like Plunkett, Tremlett and Bresnan for whom one break may be enough to launch them onto the world stage. And for the poor Hogster, if he can't be called up on his home ground in his conditions then it must be the end of a truely superb carrear. A sad day for English Cricket.

[Johnmc]

Has a Test side ever picked a bowler with less experience of conditions in his own country than two of the opposition attack and one who has never even played at the ground he has been picked to play on. What exactly were they thinking? Swinging conditions, Headingley, No Sidebottom - Fairly obvious replacement with 247 Test wickets. Who's Hoggard upset?

[Len]

Meanwhile the England u-16 captain can only play county cricket as an overseas pro...

[Johnmc]

We don't have to wait for the post-match interview Patrick. From cricinfo:

10.45am So, here's the man of the moment: A few nerves around, Darren? "Aw, definitely. I'm as shocked as everybody. Not much sleep last night. Bit different to riding the rollercoaster at Alton Towers."

Perhaps the surplus to requirements Hoggard could be roped in to Anglicise him