| Player: | MS Panesar |
DateLine: 3rd May 2009
Mudhsuden Singh Panesar, better known as Monty Panesar, hails from India with his heart beating for English cricket. He quickly established himself as a national hero following a series-winning display against Pakistan in 2006, upstaging Ashley Giles in a very short span of time as England's most favored spinner. A fine season in 2005, when he took 46 Championship wickets at 21.54, led to calls for him to be picked for England's tour of India. Panesar was subsequently handed his Test debut and got the prized scalp of Sachin Tendulkar as his first Test wicket. He is a naturally attacking spinner, bowling around the wicket to right-handers and has devised a wicket-taking celebration of his own. During his first international home season, he spun England to a series win over Pakistan. In a matter of months he had elevated himself to the position of England's senior spinner, drawing comparisons with Indias legendary Bishen Bedi. Monty in the third Ashes test at Perth in 2006 became the first English spinner to take five at the WACA, and eight in the match. By the end of the tour he had even broken into the World Cup squad, following his crucial role in England's CB Series victory. He began England's new season with 23 wickets in four Tests against West Indies, bowled England to a 2-1 series win with 6 for 126 in New Zealand in March 2008. But since then the form has been seeing a huge decline and this has been headache for the English side who look forward to him given his uncanny ability to trouble opposition batsman all types. His last outing against West Indies produced paltry returns of five wickets in three matches and England had to look to Graham Swann as their lead spinner because of the pathetic display by Panesar.
