Botham blasts Fletcher

Ian Botham branded England coach Duncan Fletcher "pig-headed" for overlooking Monty Panesar for the opening two Ashes Tests.

The spinner was finally handed his chance at the expense of Ashley Giles for the third Test in Perth with England already trailing 2-0 in the series. And Panesar did not disappoint on his Ashes debut taking 5-92 off 24 overs, making him the first English spinner to take five wickets in Perth as England bowled out Australia for 244.

Botham told Sky Sports 1: "The selection for the first Test surprised and amazed me, then to be so pig headed that you are going to stay with him (Ashley Giles) in the second Test after you were hopelessly outplayed in the first surprised me even more."

The 24-year-old made Justin Langer his first victim - taking the batsman's wicket for 37 - before Andrew Symonds, Adam Gilchrist, Shane Warne and Brett Lee all followed suit.

Botham added: "I'm struggling to understand why he (Panesar) hasn't played in the first and second Tests.

"It's not a slight on Ashley Giles or Jimmy Anderson. I think it's amazing to select two players that have not played for a year and to leave out a finger spinner of the quality he showed - Monty Panesar - and Sajid Mahmood, who the coach is telling everyone is the hottest property around as a young quick bowler who's been playing cricket.

"I find it very surprising and very difficult to comprehend why you would select two players who haven't been playing for a year."

Botham's concerns were shared by another former England skipper, Nasser Hussain, who was left to ponder what might have been had Panesar been selected sooner.

"I guess my over-riding feeling after watching the first day of this Test will not be that England have bowled Australia out for 244, but why hasn't he (Panesar) been playing before?"