Poulter and fellow Englishman Paul Casey were named as the pair to complete Faldo's 12-man team.

In a hugely controversial decision which means Darren Clarke, a winner a week ago, and Colin Montgomerie cannot extend their inspirational cup careers next month, Poulter has not paid the price for putting his US tour career before trying to qualify for the European side.

Instead Faldo has given the Open Championship runner-up – that was his first top-10 finish since January and he has not had one since – the chance to show that his Birkdale heroics were not a one-off this year.

Casey was a much more obvious selection following four top-10 finishes in his last seven tournaments.

He won a match with a hole-in-one at the K Club two years ago and is a former World Matchplay champion.

Clarke and Montgomerie said all the right things in the statements that followed their omissions, but it would be perfectly understandable if they were seething inside.

In a poll of 32 European Tour players at Gleneagles this week, only one said he would give Poulter a wild card.

There was resentment about his decision to stay away from the final counting event – third place would have made him an automatic pick and freed up Faldo to probably name the in-form Clarke – and there were many who said they simply did not rate him as highly as Clarke.

The Ulsterman has fought back from 258th in the world following the loss of his wife to cancer just before the last match, to his current ranking just outside the top 50.

He was also the inspiration of the 2006 team in Ireland, producing a stunning three wins out of three amid such emotional scenes.

Montgomerie, meanwhile, has been a talisman of the side for a decade, never losing a singles match in all his eight appearances.

The decision by Faldo means there are no Scots in the team for the first time since 1937 and Montgomerie, if he never plays Ryder Cup golf again, will end up two points shy of the event's record points-scorer – Faldo.

Poulter, who admits now it may have been a mistake to play in Boston – where he missed the cut – rather than Scotland, was stunned into silence when Faldo rang him and said he was in.

That did only happen yesterday, though. There was speculation even among other players that Poulter's decision to stay away must have followed a promise from the captain, but Faldo flatly denied that.

Casey was almost the last to hear he was in, being on a flight after also missing the cut in Boston.

Poulter said: "I am absolutely thrilled. The last few weeks have been extremely tense and I realise that my delight will be matched by extreme disappointment by those not selected.

"I will be working hard to get ready for Valhalla."

Faldo also announced that he will not be appointing any more vice-captains in addition to Jose Maria Olazabal.

On his two picks yesterday, Faldo said: "I've been watching these guys through the summer and Ian is obviously a very determined guy.

"I love his attitude and obviously what he did at the Open. That back nine he played with the intention to win and he had that emotional feeling.

"He's the leading player in the world who's not in the (automatically selected) team.

"He's been put through the wringer the last week and was actually very quiet. It was more just sheer relief – I think the emotion just hit him.

"As a captain the bottom line is you have to make your decisions.

"Darren made a massive, massive charge, a big effort the last few weeks. It's a tough call – some will agree, some will disagree.

"I'm the guy that has to live with it and I can. But it's been a tough decision.

"I briefly spoke to Darren and you could sense he was disappointed. Monty, I only managed to leave a voice message – apparently he was watching football or shopping.

"My run came to an end and the first one you miss, it stinks. Monty's had an historic career, but unfortunately his summer wasn't great and he's finished down the list."

Asked if Montgomerie in contention at Gleneagles might have changed things, Faldo added: "It would have given me another headache. It would have been seriously considered."

Faldo's first words to Poulter, though, revealed how close a relationship they have developed.

They regularly speak to each other in the voice of a character from Only Fools and Horses and on the phone Faldo said: "Raquel, go and put your overcoat on. It's time to go to the Ryder Cup."