Wednesday, August 20, 2008
India eke out narrow win to level series
S Badrinath hit the winning run as India managed a hard fought three wicket victory over Sri Lanka in the second one-dayer in Dambulla. Man of the match Zaheer Khan returned figures of four for 21 to destroy the Sri Lankan top order and the hosts to a paltry142 all out inside 39 overs. In reply, India made an unconvincing start, losing wickets at regular intervals. Eventually it was left for Dhoni and an unbeaten Badrinath to ensure victory in the 40th over.
Monday, August 11, 2008
Kumble congratulates Olympic gold medalist Bindra
Colombo (PTI): India Test skipper Anil Kumble heaped praise on Abhinav Bindra for winning first-ever individual Olympic gold medal for the country and congratulated him on behalf of his entire team for his tremendous effort.
"Winning an Olympic gold medal is something really great and my congratulations on behalf of the Indian cricket team. Congratulations to Abhinav Bindra for a fantastic effort," Kumble said.
"It's a great effort to become a world champion and winning an individual medal in a sport is a greater achievement," he added.
Bindra created history in the Chinese capital by claiming winning the 10m air rifle event today to give India its first ever individual gold in Olympic.
"Winning an Olympic gold medal is something really great and my congratulations on behalf of the Indian cricket team. Congratulations to Abhinav Bindra for a fantastic effort," Kumble said.
"It's a great effort to become a world champion and winning an individual medal in a sport is a greater achievement," he added.
Bindra created history in the Chinese capital by claiming winning the 10m air rifle event today to give India its first ever individual gold in Olympic.
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
updated
Rathore to be India's flag bearer in Beijing
August 05, 2008
Athens silver medallist Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore will carry India’s flag during the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympic Games. Rathore, who won the silver medal in 2004 in double trap shooting, is India’s first-ever Olympic individual silver medallist. He will lead the 57-member Indian contingent, which includes 9 shooters, comprising two reigning world champions in Manavjit Singh Sandhu for Trap and 10 metre air rifle champion Abhinav Bindra.
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Nadal gunning for Olympic glory
August 05, 2008
The newly crowned world number one in men’s tennis Rafael Nadal arrived in Beijing hoping to bag his first Olympic medal after capturing the French Open and the Wimbledon title this year. Nadal played with Carlos Moya in the men's doubles four years ago, but will play his first singles contest in the Olympics. The Spaniard has lost just once in his last 32 games, which came last week as he went to Serbia's Novak Djokovic in the semis of the Cincinnati Masters.
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Blatter wants Messi at the Games
August 05, 2008
FIFA President Sepp Blatter hopes Barcelona will allow star forward Lionel Messi to play at the Beijing Olympics even if the Spanish giants win a club-versus-country tug of war for the Argentina striker. Football's world governing body is awaiting a verdict from the Court of Arbitration for Sport after Barcelona appealed against a ruling by FIFA for clubs to release players aged 23 or under for the Olympics. Blatter feels that the players should be able to take part whatever the outcome.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Van Nistelrooy quits international football
August 05, 2008
Real Madrid's Dutch striker Ruud van Nistelrooy has announced his retirement from international football. Van Nistelrooy won 64 caps for Holland and is the team's third highest all-time scorer with 33 goals. He missed Euro 2000 through injury but played and scored at Euro 2004 and 2008 and also the 2006 World Cup. Van Nistelrooy had five successful years at Old Trafford before moving to Real Madrid in July 2006.
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Murray triumphs in Cincinnati for career high ranking
August 04, 2008
Eighth seed Andy Murray earned his first ATP Masters Series title with a hard fought 7-6, 7-6 victory over World No. 3 Novak Djokovic in Cincinnati. Murray’s win in 2 hours and 22 minutes makes him the first British player to win an ATP Masters series title since Tim Henman in Paris in 2003. Murray who ousted Carlos Moya en route to the finals now moves up from rank nine to a career high ranking of 6.
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Safina cruises past Cibulkova to clinch Rogers Cup
August 04, 2008
Seventh seeded Dinara Safina thrashed Slovakia's Dominika Cibulkova 6-2, 6-1 in Montreal to clinch her first Rogers Cup title. The un-seeded Cibulkova who upset fifth seed Elena Dementieva and the number one in waiting Jelena Jankovic before beating Marion Bartoli in semis, lost in one hour and eight minutes. Safina’s 27th win in 30 matches since May also sees her clinch the third singles title of the year.
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Vijay Singh claims WGC title
August 04, 2008
Former world number one Vijay Singh overcame some shaky putting on the back nine by making a 3 1/2 -foot par putt on the last hole to clinch a ten under par 1-shot victory in the World Golf Championships Invitational. Stuart Appleby birdied the last two holes to finish with a round of 68, and in second place at nine-under-par overall, alongside Lee Westwood. Phil Mickelson finished the day at eight-under-par alongside Retief Goosen opening day leader.
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Loeb cuts lead to one point in WRC standings
August 04, 2008
Sebastien Loeb won the Rally of Finland to cut Mikko Hirvonen's lead at the top of the World Rally Championship standings to just a single point. It was a first triumph in the event for the four-time world champion. The Frenchman completed the 24 special stages covering 340.42 kilometres in a time of two hours, 54 minutes and 5.5 seconds - with Hirvonen just nine seconds adrift
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Djokovic upstages Nadal in Cincinnati
August 03, 2008
Novak Djokovic ended Rafael Nadal’s 32-match winning streak to reach the finals of the Cincinnati Masters. The World number 3 handed the number one-in-waiting his first defeat in nearly three months as he won 6-1, 7-5. The Serb has now defeated the Spaniard in 4 of their last 6 matches on hard court and will take on Andy Murray in the final. Murray overcame the big-serving Ivo Karlovic 6-4, 6-4 in straight sets. Murray had beaten Djokovic in their last meeting in Toronto last week.
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Bhupathi-Knowles crash out in semis
August 03, 2008
Mahesh Bhupathi and his doubles partner Mark Knowles of the Bahamas were knocked out in a nail biting three-setter in the semi-final of the Cincinnati Masters by Bob and Mike Bryan. The top seeds, who won the tournament in 2003, won the match 4-6, 7-6, 10-8. Bhupathi and Knowles were hoping to enter their first final since finishing runners-up to Rafael Nadal and Tommy Robredo at the Monte Carlo Masters in April
August 05, 2008
Athens silver medallist Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore will carry India’s flag during the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympic Games. Rathore, who won the silver medal in 2004 in double trap shooting, is India’s first-ever Olympic individual silver medallist. He will lead the 57-member Indian contingent, which includes 9 shooters, comprising two reigning world champions in Manavjit Singh Sandhu for Trap and 10 metre air rifle champion Abhinav Bindra.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Nadal gunning for Olympic glory
August 05, 2008
The newly crowned world number one in men’s tennis Rafael Nadal arrived in Beijing hoping to bag his first Olympic medal after capturing the French Open and the Wimbledon title this year. Nadal played with Carlos Moya in the men's doubles four years ago, but will play his first singles contest in the Olympics. The Spaniard has lost just once in his last 32 games, which came last week as he went to Serbia's Novak Djokovic in the semis of the Cincinnati Masters.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Blatter wants Messi at the Games
August 05, 2008
FIFA President Sepp Blatter hopes Barcelona will allow star forward Lionel Messi to play at the Beijing Olympics even if the Spanish giants win a club-versus-country tug of war for the Argentina striker. Football's world governing body is awaiting a verdict from the Court of Arbitration for Sport after Barcelona appealed against a ruling by FIFA for clubs to release players aged 23 or under for the Olympics. Blatter feels that the players should be able to take part whatever the outcome.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Van Nistelrooy quits international football
August 05, 2008
Real Madrid's Dutch striker Ruud van Nistelrooy has announced his retirement from international football. Van Nistelrooy won 64 caps for Holland and is the team's third highest all-time scorer with 33 goals. He missed Euro 2000 through injury but played and scored at Euro 2004 and 2008 and also the 2006 World Cup. Van Nistelrooy had five successful years at Old Trafford before moving to Real Madrid in July 2006.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Murray triumphs in Cincinnati for career high ranking
August 04, 2008
Eighth seed Andy Murray earned his first ATP Masters Series title with a hard fought 7-6, 7-6 victory over World No. 3 Novak Djokovic in Cincinnati. Murray’s win in 2 hours and 22 minutes makes him the first British player to win an ATP Masters series title since Tim Henman in Paris in 2003. Murray who ousted Carlos Moya en route to the finals now moves up from rank nine to a career high ranking of 6.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Safina cruises past Cibulkova to clinch Rogers Cup
August 04, 2008
Seventh seeded Dinara Safina thrashed Slovakia's Dominika Cibulkova 6-2, 6-1 in Montreal to clinch her first Rogers Cup title. The un-seeded Cibulkova who upset fifth seed Elena Dementieva and the number one in waiting Jelena Jankovic before beating Marion Bartoli in semis, lost in one hour and eight minutes. Safina’s 27th win in 30 matches since May also sees her clinch the third singles title of the year.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Vijay Singh claims WGC title
August 04, 2008
Former world number one Vijay Singh overcame some shaky putting on the back nine by making a 3 1/2 -foot par putt on the last hole to clinch a ten under par 1-shot victory in the World Golf Championships Invitational. Stuart Appleby birdied the last two holes to finish with a round of 68, and in second place at nine-under-par overall, alongside Lee Westwood. Phil Mickelson finished the day at eight-under-par alongside Retief Goosen opening day leader.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Loeb cuts lead to one point in WRC standings
August 04, 2008
Sebastien Loeb won the Rally of Finland to cut Mikko Hirvonen's lead at the top of the World Rally Championship standings to just a single point. It was a first triumph in the event for the four-time world champion. The Frenchman completed the 24 special stages covering 340.42 kilometres in a time of two hours, 54 minutes and 5.5 seconds - with Hirvonen just nine seconds adrift
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Djokovic upstages Nadal in Cincinnati
August 03, 2008
Novak Djokovic ended Rafael Nadal’s 32-match winning streak to reach the finals of the Cincinnati Masters. The World number 3 handed the number one-in-waiting his first defeat in nearly three months as he won 6-1, 7-5. The Serb has now defeated the Spaniard in 4 of their last 6 matches on hard court and will take on Andy Murray in the final. Murray overcame the big-serving Ivo Karlovic 6-4, 6-4 in straight sets. Murray had beaten Djokovic in their last meeting in Toronto last week.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bhupathi-Knowles crash out in semis
August 03, 2008
Mahesh Bhupathi and his doubles partner Mark Knowles of the Bahamas were knocked out in a nail biting three-setter in the semi-final of the Cincinnati Masters by Bob and Mike Bryan. The top seeds, who won the tournament in 2003, won the match 4-6, 7-6, 10-8. Bhupathi and Knowles were hoping to enter their first final since finishing runners-up to Rafael Nadal and Tommy Robredo at the Monte Carlo Masters in April
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Is BCCI's anti-ICL stand world cricket's new apartheid?
Friday July 25, 03:16 AM
While India play Sri Lanka and the rain in Colombo, on what seems like another batsman obsessed pitch, the juniors are out in Australia putting in some impressive performances against their peers. Cricket never stops, does it? It only moves elsewhere!
Rarely has a nation put out such vastly different teams within days of each other as India have in Sri Lanka post the Asia Cup. Eight out of the eleven in the first Test were not present in Pakistan and that tells me two things: one, that India must possess great depth in their cricket and two, that there ought to have been some rusty players in Colombo.
But these are different days in Indian cricket and there is now a fully functional cricket academy which means that there is a facility for players who haven't played cricket to get back into rhythm under a very good coach and fitness trainers. The NCA is, at the moment, one of the most valuable resources the BCCI could have built up. Just imagine otherwise. With the monsoon having set in, there would hardly have been any practice or training facilities around, a call would have to be sent out for volunteers. Instead, the players will be as ready for competition as they could have been.
Harbhajan gets his spot back straightaway and that is good and bad. It is a vote of confidence in his ability, which has never been doubted anyway, but it would have been nice if there had been competition forcing him to fight his way back. But there is none in Indian cricket when it comes to Test matches and that is why it might have been a better idea for the emerging nations to play three or four day games as well, for that would have told us of the quality of Piyush Chawla, Amit Mishra and Pragyan Ojha in the longer format.
Instead, Piyush Chawla will probably have to sit at home because in an unfortunate announcement, the BCCI has announced that Indian players cannot play for county sides in England that have ICL players on their staff. I wonder if I am the only person who is wondering if there is a new apartheid in world cricket. I can go so far as to understand one body not picking players who have played for another set-up. But not to take the field in the company of those that have played the ICL, in a third country, seems cruel and unfair. Even at the height of South Africa's isolation, Bishan Bedi bowled to Barry Richards in county cricket, Sunil Gavaskar batted with Graeme Pollock in a world eleven and nobody raised a hue and cry over it.
I think we need to be a little more generous. A little more understanding. It will help Indian cricket if VVS Laxman gets some more good cricket under his belt before Australia come to India; for Piyush Chawla to bowl a lot more overs and experiment and bowl more leg breaks. For just as Zaheer Khan benefitted from a lot of bowling, so too could young Chawla who needs to grow quickly since Anil Kumble doesn't have a lot of time left. I think we have missed an opportunity.
Terrific combination
Zaheer, indeed, is the player to watch out for in Sri Lanka. He has spent far too much time off the field in his career but he gives the impression of having come to terms with it and by not rushing back, he is giving himself the best possible chance of success in the time that he has. In England last year, he played a huge role in India's first series win there for years (under Rahul Dravid, it is often forgotten!) and I believe by using him wisely, we will get a lot more out of him. Luckily there are people to fill his slot. Ishant Sharma and Sreesanth in form, for example, would make a terrific combination.
I would also like to see a few serious challengers emerge for the middle order slots in the next year. Yuvraj Singh must feel disappointed at not being in Sri Lanka but the way out is to be hard on himself and return to where he belongs: the first cab off the rank. While Rohit Sharma is an obvious candidate, I would like to see a closer look at S Badrinath who has done almost everything asked of him. This may be a fantasy thought but won't it be great if India's current Test side could take on this in a five day game: Robin Uthappa, Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Yuvraj Singh, Badrinath, Suresh Raina, Parthiv Patel, Piyush Chawla, Pragyan Ojha, Sreesanth and RP Singh.
While India play Sri Lanka and the rain in Colombo, on what seems like another batsman obsessed pitch, the juniors are out in Australia putting in some impressive performances against their peers. Cricket never stops, does it? It only moves elsewhere!
Rarely has a nation put out such vastly different teams within days of each other as India have in Sri Lanka post the Asia Cup. Eight out of the eleven in the first Test were not present in Pakistan and that tells me two things: one, that India must possess great depth in their cricket and two, that there ought to have been some rusty players in Colombo.
But these are different days in Indian cricket and there is now a fully functional cricket academy which means that there is a facility for players who haven't played cricket to get back into rhythm under a very good coach and fitness trainers. The NCA is, at the moment, one of the most valuable resources the BCCI could have built up. Just imagine otherwise. With the monsoon having set in, there would hardly have been any practice or training facilities around, a call would have to be sent out for volunteers. Instead, the players will be as ready for competition as they could have been.
Harbhajan gets his spot back straightaway and that is good and bad. It is a vote of confidence in his ability, which has never been doubted anyway, but it would have been nice if there had been competition forcing him to fight his way back. But there is none in Indian cricket when it comes to Test matches and that is why it might have been a better idea for the emerging nations to play three or four day games as well, for that would have told us of the quality of Piyush Chawla, Amit Mishra and Pragyan Ojha in the longer format.
Instead, Piyush Chawla will probably have to sit at home because in an unfortunate announcement, the BCCI has announced that Indian players cannot play for county sides in England that have ICL players on their staff. I wonder if I am the only person who is wondering if there is a new apartheid in world cricket. I can go so far as to understand one body not picking players who have played for another set-up. But not to take the field in the company of those that have played the ICL, in a third country, seems cruel and unfair. Even at the height of South Africa's isolation, Bishan Bedi bowled to Barry Richards in county cricket, Sunil Gavaskar batted with Graeme Pollock in a world eleven and nobody raised a hue and cry over it.
I think we need to be a little more generous. A little more understanding. It will help Indian cricket if VVS Laxman gets some more good cricket under his belt before Australia come to India; for Piyush Chawla to bowl a lot more overs and experiment and bowl more leg breaks. For just as Zaheer Khan benefitted from a lot of bowling, so too could young Chawla who needs to grow quickly since Anil Kumble doesn't have a lot of time left. I think we have missed an opportunity.
Terrific combination
Zaheer, indeed, is the player to watch out for in Sri Lanka. He has spent far too much time off the field in his career but he gives the impression of having come to terms with it and by not rushing back, he is giving himself the best possible chance of success in the time that he has. In England last year, he played a huge role in India's first series win there for years (under Rahul Dravid, it is often forgotten!) and I believe by using him wisely, we will get a lot more out of him. Luckily there are people to fill his slot. Ishant Sharma and Sreesanth in form, for example, would make a terrific combination.
I would also like to see a few serious challengers emerge for the middle order slots in the next year. Yuvraj Singh must feel disappointed at not being in Sri Lanka but the way out is to be hard on himself and return to where he belongs: the first cab off the rank. While Rohit Sharma is an obvious candidate, I would like to see a closer look at S Badrinath who has done almost everything asked of him. This may be a fantasy thought but won't it be great if India's current Test side could take on this in a five day game: Robin Uthappa, Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Yuvraj Singh, Badrinath, Suresh Raina, Parthiv Patel, Piyush Chawla, Pragyan Ojha, Sreesanth and RP Singh.
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Botham rages over 'pathetic' selection
England legend Ian Botham slammed England’s selection for the second Test at Headingley that ended in a comprehensive ten-wicket victory for South Africa.
Little-known swing bowler Darren Pattinson was given a debut on Friday after Ryan Sidebottom failed a fitness test. The man born in Grimsby but raised in Melbourne has been back in England less than two years and has just completed his first half season in county cricket. Yet he was picked ahead of veterans like Matthew Hoggard, Steve Harmison and Simon Jones.
Pattinson was the first new cap since the current selection panel of Geoff Miller, James Whitaker and Ashley Giles took over. Botham was one of several former England stars to knock the policy of bringing in the untried seamer.
“The England team selection on Friday knocked me sideways,” Botham said in his Daily Mirror column. “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.
“His inclusion is beyond me. It is not the lad's fault, and I really did feel sorry for him when he had to walk into a dressing room and no one knew him. He'd have arrived there thinking: 'What on earth am I doing here?'
“It was the most illogical, pathetic and diabolical piece of selecting I've seen. I couldn't believe that I was picking up the microphone to talk about an opening bowler for England that I'd never heard of.
“I had people coming up to me asking about this bloke and I couldn't help them. Then we've got the England captain saying: 'Er, I think I played against him in a Twenty20 game once'. What a joke!
It was very bizarre and what message is that sending? The selectors suggested it was a horses for courses pick - what nonsense, the guy has played just six games.
“When you overlook someone like Steve Harmison who has been told to go and get wickets and get his pace up, which he has, and you leave out Simon Jones, Sajid Mahmood, Matthew Hoggard what is that saying? Please someone tell me who's magic hat this pick came out of. I want to know who said Pattinson was the man to come in ahead of all the other contenders.”
Little-known swing bowler Darren Pattinson was given a debut on Friday after Ryan Sidebottom failed a fitness test. The man born in Grimsby but raised in Melbourne has been back in England less than two years and has just completed his first half season in county cricket. Yet he was picked ahead of veterans like Matthew Hoggard, Steve Harmison and Simon Jones.
Pattinson was the first new cap since the current selection panel of Geoff Miller, James Whitaker and Ashley Giles took over. Botham was one of several former England stars to knock the policy of bringing in the untried seamer.
“The England team selection on Friday knocked me sideways,” Botham said in his Daily Mirror column. “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.
“His inclusion is beyond me. It is not the lad's fault, and I really did feel sorry for him when he had to walk into a dressing room and no one knew him. He'd have arrived there thinking: 'What on earth am I doing here?'
“It was the most illogical, pathetic and diabolical piece of selecting I've seen. I couldn't believe that I was picking up the microphone to talk about an opening bowler for England that I'd never heard of.
“I had people coming up to me asking about this bloke and I couldn't help them. Then we've got the England captain saying: 'Er, I think I played against him in a Twenty20 game once'. What a joke!
It was very bizarre and what message is that sending? The selectors suggested it was a horses for courses pick - what nonsense, the guy has played just six games.
“When you overlook someone like Steve Harmison who has been told to go and get wickets and get his pace up, which he has, and you leave out Simon Jones, Sajid Mahmood, Matthew Hoggard what is that saying? Please someone tell me who's magic hat this pick came out of. I want to know who said Pattinson was the man to come in ahead of all the other contenders.”
Sri Lanka v India start delayed due to overnight rain
India’s opening Test against Sri Lanka at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo has been delayed due to heavy overnight rain. Covers remained on the ground till lunch was taken with a further inspection scheduled just after. India are in the emerald island for a test series after seven years and last won a Test series there in 1993. Unorthodox Lankan spinner Ajantha Mendis is poised for his maiden Test cap
Botham rages over 'pathetic' selection
England legend Ian Botham slammed England’s selection for the second Test at Headingley that ended in a comprehensive ten-wicket victory for South Africa.
Little-known swing bowler Darren Pattinson was given a debut on Friday after Ryan Sidebottom failed a fitness test. The man born in Grimsby but raised in Melbourne has been back in England less than two years and has just completed his first half season in county cricket. Yet he was picked ahead of veterans like Matthew Hoggard, Steve Harmison and Simon Jones.
Pattinson was the first new cap since the current selection panel of Geoff Miller, James Whitaker and Ashley Giles took over. Botham was one of several former England stars to knock the policy of bringing in the untried seamer.
“The England team selection on Friday knocked me sideways,” Botham said in his Daily Mirror column. “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.
“His inclusion is beyond me. It is not the lad's fault, and I really did feel sorry for him when he had to walk into a dressing room and no one knew him. He'd have arrived there thinking: 'What on earth am I doing here?'
“It was the most illogical, pathetic and diabolical piece of selecting I've seen. I couldn't believe that I was picking up the microphone to talk about an opening bowler for England that I'd never heard of.
“I had people coming up to me asking about this bloke and I couldn't help them. Then we've got the England captain saying: 'Er, I think I played against him in a Twenty20 game once'. What a joke!
It was very bizarre and what message is that sending? The selectors suggested it was a horses for courses pick - what nonsense, the guy has played just six games.
“When you overlook someone like Steve Harmison who has been told to go and get wickets and get his pace up, which he has, and you leave out Simon Jones, Sajid Mahmood, Matthew Hoggard what is that saying? Please someone tell me who's magic hat this pick came out of. I want to know who said Pattinson was the man to come in ahead of all the other contenders.”
Little-known swing bowler Darren Pattinson was given a debut on Friday after Ryan Sidebottom failed a fitness test. The man born in Grimsby but raised in Melbourne has been back in England less than two years and has just completed his first half season in county cricket. Yet he was picked ahead of veterans like Matthew Hoggard, Steve Harmison and Simon Jones.
Pattinson was the first new cap since the current selection panel of Geoff Miller, James Whitaker and Ashley Giles took over. Botham was one of several former England stars to knock the policy of bringing in the untried seamer.
“The England team selection on Friday knocked me sideways,” Botham said in his Daily Mirror column. “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.
“His inclusion is beyond me. It is not the lad's fault, and I really did feel sorry for him when he had to walk into a dressing room and no one knew him. He'd have arrived there thinking: 'What on earth am I doing here?'
“It was the most illogical, pathetic and diabolical piece of selecting I've seen. I couldn't believe that I was picking up the microphone to talk about an opening bowler for England that I'd never heard of.
“I had people coming up to me asking about this bloke and I couldn't help them. Then we've got the England captain saying: 'Er, I think I played against him in a Twenty20 game once'. What a joke!
It was very bizarre and what message is that sending? The selectors suggested it was a horses for courses pick - what nonsense, the guy has played just six games.
“When you overlook someone like Steve Harmison who has been told to go and get wickets and get his pace up, which he has, and you leave out Simon Jones, Sajid Mahmood, Matthew Hoggard what is that saying? Please someone tell me who's magic hat this pick came out of. I want to know who said Pattinson was the man to come in ahead of all the other contenders.”
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