Pattinson was a shock selection for the Test at Headingley

Former England captain Alec Stewart said bowler Darren Pattinson had been made a "scapegoat" for England's second Test defeat to South Africa on Monday.

The decision to include the uncapped Pattinson, 29, in the squad ahead of more experienced fast bowlers was criticised in some quarters.

"I've sympathy for Pattinson. He's been made a scapegoat and to me unfairly," Stewart told BBC London 94.9.

"He's a decent bowler, an untried bowler. It caught people unawares."

Pattinson finished the 10-wicket defeat at Headingley with figures of 2-96 - and Stewart is confident that he will represent England again.

"I'm sure we'll see him again," added Stewart. "The selectors very rarely just pick a player for one Test match, so I'm sure he'll still be in the frame.

"Next time he plays he'll be more relaxed. He'll know the boys and the set-up better."

Pattinson was picked in place of the injured Ryan Sidebottom despite having made only 11 first-class appearances.

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And he was selected ahead of England internationals Chris Tremlett, Simon Jones, Steve Harmison and Matthew Hoggard.

"Normally you're told go back and perform for your counties to get back in the England squad - Hoggard and Harmison had done that," added Stewart.

"If Hoggard of Harmison had been picked and England had still played that way I don't think there would have been such a hoo-hah, but it was the 11 that didn't play well enough, not just one individual."

Hoggard has been playing for Yorkshire this season and Stewart suggested the bowler may not have done enough in games he has played alongside England captain and county colleague Michael Vaughan.

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"Vaughan has played a couple of county games with Hoggard," added Stewart, who played 133 Tests for England.

"Maybe he saw something that's saying he's not quite on top of his game or he's not quite the bowler he was when he was getting wickets for England.

"I'm sure that would have had a bearing on Hoggard not being selected and the Nottinghamshire lad being picked."

Meanwhile, Stewart is also concerned by the wicket-keeping situation.

Current incumbent Tim Ambrose has struggled for runs this summer, prompting calls for Matt Prior to return to the team.

"The wheel keeps turning and the pressure keeps building," said Stewart, who also kept wicket for England.

"Unless someone catches every catch, takes every stump and scores a hundred every game it's as though the debate who should keep wicket is always going to rear its head.

"At the start of the season I said I felt Tim Ambrose should play the whole summer because then he would have played 10 Test matches.

"I believe after 10 Test matches you can make a judgement call on whether he's good enough, how he copes with the situation.

"The problem is now that England have gone 1-0 down, that selection policy could well be pushed out of the window.

"When you play for England or any national side it's hard work. You know you've got to perform."

However, Stewart is unsure how best to solve England's wicket-keeping dilemma, insisting there is little to choose between Prior and Ambrose.

Stewart said: "If Ambrose is batting at six, then Matt Prior is certainly good enough to bat at six. The debate will continue. I don't like to sit on the fence but I honestly don't know.

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"Ambrose looks like a pretty cool calm customer but he hasn't got enough runs recently to warrant batting as high up the order as six.

"He's certainly a good cricketer and Prior in the background is certainly doing his bit to cause debate when the selectors meet when they name the side on Saturday."

But Stewart does feel that the return to the side of Andrew Flintoff to the side after an absence of 18 months has provided England with a boost.

"Any side with Flintoff in it is an improved side," said the 45-year-old.

"Using the clich� that's going round at the minute, he has got the 'X-factor'.

"He loves playing for England. He's worked exceptionally hard to get back to full fitness and it's a credit to him and supporting staff to get him back into the shape he is.

"It's great to have him back. He's here to stay. He's not Superman, though people think he may be.

"He's a number seven, he's no higher than that at Test cricket. So he's in at number seven, he's here to stay and that gives not just the team but also the cricketing public a huge lift from the English point of view."