Fletcher “pig-headed” says Botham

Former England great Ian Botham have described England coach Duncan Fletcher as “pig-headed” for overlooking Monty Panesar for the first two Ashes Tests.

Panesar proved just how valuable he is by taking 5-92 in Australia’s first innings in Perth.

Botham told the Herald Sun that “the selection for the first Test surprised and amazed me, then to be so pig-headed that you are going to stay with him (Giles) in the second Test after you were hopelessly outplayed in the first surprised me even more.”

Former England captain and now commentator Geoff Boycott echoed Botham’s thoughts by telling the Daily Telegraph that “he has been so effective since he arrived on the scene last winter that it beggars belief that he was dropped from the team.”

“If a young batsman had turned up and scored centuries all over the place, would Duncan Fletcher have done the same to him? Don’t be daft,” Boycott added.

Panesar averages 32.40 from 10 Tests while Ashley Giles averages 40.60 from 54 Tests.