The Step Back?

It's been a terrible couple of days for Monty Panesar. He arrived at the Oval as the only British-Asian cricketer with a central contract and leaves without even an incremental contract. On Wednesday he bowled twenty overs without reward or much turn. He got no wickets for 56 runs. His county captain for Northants, Nicky Boje, rubbed salt into the wound with both ball and bat. Boje took 3 wickets for 61 runs from 23 overs and should have had a half-century too. Boje was dismissed for 49.

In an exclusive interview with us before he lost his central contract Panesar told us that he worked very hard on his batting and fielding too. Boje confirmed it, but Panesar could not take advantage of the flat surface at the Oval. Panesar's magnificent rear-guard action in Cardiff played an important part in England regaining the Ashes. He survived eleven overs to deprive Australia of the win they all but celebrated when he walked to the crease. The momentum turned England's way and the rest is history, but Panesar never got another chance.

Steve Harmison lost his central contract too, but the new contracts show how far Panesar has slipped off the radar for England's selectors. Graeme Swann got one and Adil Rashid was awarded an incremental one. Boje gave us an exclusive interview. “He [Panesar] probably just needs the opportunity to play really and do well really,” said Boje. “It is disappointing for somebody that’s been in the Test squad in the Ashes and then lose your central contract. He’ll be disappointed.”
 

Hard Work:

Panesar has lost form and confidence, but according to Boje, Panesar is a very hard worker and he backs him to regain his place. “Oh yes, definitely," said Boje. "He’s still a quality cricket player. There’s nothing wrong with his attitude. He’s giving his best every time he plays. He’s probably lacking a bit in confidence at the moment. Every cricketer goes through that at some time in their career and he’s going through that. I think that Northants as a club has got to keep supporting him and help him regain his confidence.”

We interviewed Panesar earlier in the season. His thoughts were illuminating. “I think my batting has improved,” he said. He made just one yesterday, bamboozled by latest Sri Lankan spinning sensation Rangana Herath. He was also happy with his bowling at the time against Middlesex. “I’m pleased with the way it’s coming out and I’ve been contributing to the team.” He works hard on his fielding too. “I’m working on that and it’s improving as well so I’ve got to keep obviously plugging away in the right direction,” said Panesar.

Even then Panesar was determined to win back his Test place. “I guess when the opportunity arises I’ve just got to be ready for it and hopefully my time will come and I’ve just got to be ready when the opportunity comes,” said Panesar. It will be harder now as not only has Graeme Swann established himself as England's first choice spinner, but Adil Rashid has emerged as well. The decision not to award him any contract with England shows that after three years the ECB has lost patience and Panesar has to prove them wrong.

Boje backs him to do that and insists that Panesar works very hard on his game trying to master his weaknesses. “He works quite a lot on his game,” said Boje after defeating Middlesex.. “He’s always in the nets batting, so his quality for us is getting back to normal. He does his normal good with the ball as well; yeah, he’s doing well.”

The Next Generation:

Panesar remains a role-model for British-Asian youngsters. “I think cricket is played a lot on the sub-continent,” he said. “I think it’s just because the popularity of the game in the sub-continent is vast and a lot more and I think that heritage is still going to be strong, regardless of cricketers coming through the England set up. I think guys just love playing and in the sub-continent they follow cricket a lot more than football.”

But Panesar is not satisfied that cricket has spread its influence as far as possible and he wants that to change. He supports the initiative by Cricket Australia to take a team of talented Aboriginal cricketers on a tour of England to get them used to the rigours of touring. “I think cricket should spread as far as it can go, so it’s going to benefit everyone, so I’m sure that a strategy like that will benefit everyone,” said Panesar. “You look at the way the IPL [Indian Premier League] is and a lot of other games, cricket’s being globalised and I think it’s going to improve and help everyone in the cricketing arena.