South Africa captain Graeme Smith has accused England of indecisive leadership as the tourists look to increase the pressure by triumphing in the third npower Test at Edgbaston.

Smith was bemused by the discussions and apparent reluctance of anyone in the England camp to take responsibility for the selection of paceman Darren Pattinson for the second Test at Headingley which South Africa won by 10 wickets.

England skipper Michael Vaughan admitted after the game that selection policies caused a lack of unity in the dressing room - remarks which prompted chairman of selectors Geoff Miller to meet the Yorkshire batsman to clarify his comments.

Smith, 27, is dismissive of the fact one newcomer to a dressing room such as Pattinson should cause the kind of disruption which has been suggested in some quarters.

But the left-handed opener is looking to turn up the heat on England by taking control in Birmingham as the Proteas look to win a series in this country for the first time since returning to the international fold at the end of the apartheid era.

Smith said: "Am I amused by all the turmoil and speculation surrounding England since Headingley? It is not something that has surprised me in terms of after the selection of Darren Pattinson.

"No-one really knew anything about him so, if things don't go well, there is a point where they are going to have to answer a lot of questions.

"What has surprised us more is the indecisiveness around the England leadership and that has surprised a bit more than the actual selection.

"Just the calling in, and the discussions, and no-one taking responsibility for it. That surprised me a bit.

"But inside the dressing room I don't see how one guy making his debut can affect a dressing room that has been together for so long.

"I think players are experienced enough these days to be able to deal with these little things.

"As a South African team, we've had our fair share of them over the years.

"This year we've performed well, especially the first six months, with a lot of stuff going on on the administrative side so it is credit to our guys."

Smith added: "Is what is happening with England giving us a helping hand? As an opposition team, every time you can see the other team is under pressure, it does benefit you.

"We know if we can play really good cricket for the first couple of days at Birmingham, we can maybe open up some wounds and put some certain players under a lot of pressure in this Test.

"But that can only happen if you play good cricket and England are a competitive team. They've bounced back many times before and they've got the players to do it.

"We've got respect for that and we know we've got to play well to make those things count for us."

Smith is surprised England are going into the Edgbaston game with only a four-pronged attack given the fact they need to take 20 wickets to level the series.

The return of Ryan Sidebottom and Paul Collingwood sees Pattinson and Stuart Broad making way as England look to strengthen their batting, with Tim Ambrose reverting from number six to number eight.

Smith said: "It is kind of what we expected in terms of England bringing back the extra batter. We expected they would go that way.

"But it does surprise me they are only picking four bowlers. I said before the series that I expected Michael (Vaughan) to want to play the extra seamer.

"I think they probably feel this is their best all-round team. It is a surprise to us but it is the team they have selected and the one we've got to take on starting tomorrow.

"I am pretty happy with all the facets of our game and we need to pick that all up again tomorrow."

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