Darren Pattinson: One year on

It's coming up to nearly a year since England plucked unknown Australian superquick (self described) from relative obscurity and placed him into the firing line against South Africa, giving him the new cherry. In so doing, he became the 640th player to receive a cap for England, his adopted country.

While many still snigger at the decision to pick him, it's important to recall the facts from this test match. They tell a different story. Against a classy South African outfit, Darren took home figures of 2 for 95 off 30 overs on a batsman-friendly wicket. Going at just over 3 an over, Darren repaid the faith shown in him by the selectors. Terrorising Prince and Amla with, what i'm describing, as a mixture of line and length balls, Darren did himself and his country proud. It's a shame he hasn't been picked since. Cricket has been the poorer for it, much in the manner of the terror attacks on the Sri Lankan cricket team.

So what have we learnt from Darren's selection? Is there a lesson to be learnt? Wickman Junior thinks there might be, but can't quite place his finger on it. Any suggestions gratefully received.

I've added some thoughts from those involved at the time.

"Darren has been given a lot of criticism, but it is not his fault. He got selected, turned up and tried his guts out for us... I felt sorry for him. He didn't know anyone and we didn't know him, so it was very difficult."

A sad reflection by Michael Vaughan on the controversial selection of Darren Pattinson for the Headingley Test Jul 22, 2008

"We didn't know much about Pattinson. We didn't have any footage on him. Whatever team the English put out we were just going to try and prepare with whatever information we could get. Which wasn't a lot."

Hashim Amla admits Darren Pattinson's call-up caught South Africa by surprise. Like everyone else Jul 19, 2008

Wickman Junior