LONDON, Dec 20: England pace bowler Sajid Mahmood has expressed dismay at the way he was handled by captain Andrew Flintoff in the third Ashes Test against Australia during which he bowled only 17 overs.

In his weekly column in The Guardian, Mahmood said there were times during the match when he questioned what he was doing on the pitch.

Mahmood bowled seven overs in the first innings and 10 in the second as Australia clinched the series 3-0 to regain the Ashes.

“I had to wonder whether I had been selected as a bowler,” he said. “I'm sure Freddie (Flintoff) had his reasons for keeping me out of the attack for such long periods but I was a bit surprised.

“I felt a little bit ignored at times, especially after my first two overs in the second innings when I didn't get another go until about the 70th over.

“When you're not getting the ball thrown to you, you get a little bit disappointed.”

Mahmood, who made his Test debut against Sri Lanka this year, was overlooked for the first two Tests in Brisbane and Adelaide.

“I was so excited about playing my first Ashes Test but that excitement doesn't come near to the disappointment we're all feeling right now,” he said. “To lose the urn after only 15 months is a horrible feeling.”—Reuters