I think he's a Victorian. But I'm confused- is he now an overseas player for Victoria now, or for Nottingham?

He's English Aurelius - he was born in Grimsby, but I assume he also holds an Australian passport having lived there for however long. I'm interested in his selection and hope he does well, but I think that Matthew Hoggard, Steve Harmison, Simon Jones, Chris Tremlett, Sajid Mahmood, Liam Plunkett, Graham Onions, Charlie Shreck, heck even the likes of Steve Kirby, Jon Lewis, Alan Richardson and co who've been doing decently (or even very well) in county cricket for years will have a collective right to be astonished!

I think Pattinson has been selected ahead of those guys because of the Australian connection, I really believe our selectors are swayed by that kind of thing and Geoff Miller simply goes along with the latest fad. Not saying Pattinson won't do well, but it's a staggering pick way out of left field and puts a fair bit of pressure on both Pattinson and the selectors.

Gibbs_Fan, I'd not be worrying about our tail if I were you - I have far more confidence in Flintoff, Broad, Panesar, Anderson, Pattinson than Boucher, Morkel, Harris, Steyn and Ntini!

My understanding is that he won't be going back to Victoria. He signed a two year contract for Notts at the beginning of April. He has an English passport, having spent the first six or seven years of his life in Grimsby.

For me, it's a horses for courses selection. Were this match at the Oval then Tremlett or even Harmison would have been in the side. Pattinson has good form, as been getting good batsmen out in Division One and fits the profile of the successful Headingley bowler. I don't see it as a long term thing, unless he has great success. I don't believe Hoggard has done enough to put himself back in contention and the others are too inexperienced, not in great form or are the wrong type of bowler. Tremlett's the unlucky man but he'll get his chance.

Matthew Hoggard - Not done enough
Steve Harmison - Wrong type of bowler
Simon Jones - I don't believe the selectors are convinced of his fitness (do we want to bring him back too soon?)
Chris Tremlett - Wrong ground for him
Sajid Mahmood - As above I suspect
Liam Plunkett - Form? Consistency?
Graham Onions - Has he played regularly? Form?
Charlie Shreck - Pattinson has outbowled Charlie this summer.
Steve Kirby, Jon Lewis, Alan Richardson - All in the wrong division and not bowling as well as Pattinson.

These are just my suggestions as to why Pattinson's been selected before them. I might be wrong.

Why are we comparing the SA tail with the England one. We all know that the SA tail are not going to trouble the scorers but I was talking about the England batting line up. I just pointed out that if the top order fail to score, the lower order in this match cannot be relied on. For me, Ambrose is no number 6. Maybe he can prove me wrong.

I have more confidence in Collingwood, Amrose and Broad than in Ambrose, Flintoff and Broad. That was my point, the SA tail are weak (fact) but thats not what I was talking about.

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434, world record for the shortest period. Whos choking now?

I'm not best pleased with this. If you really want to pick strictly on form then:

Tremlett is ranked dead last in the qualifying first division averages (7 matches, 18 wickets @ 32.88); why is he even in the squad if he's not going to play? Hoggard has 22 wickets @ 24.31, Saj Mahmood has 24 @ 28, Harmison 36 @ 22, Kabir Ali 30 @ 20, Jones 29 @ 13.

All (except Mahmood, admittedly) are either internationals or proven county performers over a period of time. Pattison has been in first class cricket for about five minutes. Good luck to him, but the selection doesnt make much sense to me.

Greame Onions picked up a heel injury just before the 20-20 and isn't yet back into the Durham side.
Liam Plunkett missed the first half of the season with a side injury, he is back in the Durham side and his batting has been a revalation 120 from 2 innings out only once. His bowling is starting to come back to form but he's only had 2 games so very undercooked.
Steve Harmison on the other hand has looked to be coming back to his best.

For me if Plunketts bowling hits top form I'd have him in the England side, he is another like Broad who is effectively an all-rounder on current form.

How can Pattinson be selected ahead of Hoggard on Hoggys home ground when one has 250 test wickets and the other is starting only his 12th ever proper match at the age of 29.

Complete lunacy,i hope he justifies his selection but he needs to do a lot to it.

This has to be the most high risk selection for some time. Ambrose at 6 and Pattinson seem to me to be questionable at best. I hope Miller knows what he's doing because if we lose this game then the knives will be out and probably with some justification.

The 2nd Test continues in the same vein as the First. England's first wicket is another bad, bad decision from the umpire. I just hope they don't suffer too much from Billy's poor eyesight!