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Monty Panesar

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Personal information
Full name
jamie singh panesar
Nicknamejamie
Height6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
BattingLeft-handed
BowlingSlow left arm orthodox
RoleBowler
International information
National side
Test debut (cap 631)1 March 2006 v India
Last Test9 August 2007 v India
ODI debut (cap 200)12 January 2007 v Australia
Last ODI5 September 2007 v India
ODI shirt no.46
Domestic team information
YearsTeam
2001–presentNorthamptonshire
Career statistics
Competition Tests ODIs FC LA
Matches 20 22 64 33
Runs scored 124 23 430 73
Batting average 7.29 5.75 8.11 10.42
100s/50s 0/0 0/0 0/0 0/0
Top score 26 13 39* 16*
Balls bowled 4593 1092 15053 1578
Wickets 73 20 246 31
Bowling average 30.80 40.80 29.44 37.19
5 wickets in innings 6 0 16 1
10 wickets in match 1 n/a 3 n/a
Best bowling 6/129 3/25 7/181 5/20
Catches/stumpings 3/– 2/– 16/– 5/–
Source: cricketarchive.com, 29 August 2007

Monty Panesar (born Mudhsuden Singh Panesar, 25 April, 1982 in Luton, Bedfordshire), is an English cricketer. A left-arm spinner with a classical action, Panesar plays Test and ODI cricket for England, and county cricket for Northamptonshire. He is the 631st capped player for England, with the number 46 on his ODI shirt.

Born to Indian Punjabi parents, he is the first Sikh to represent a nation other than India in Test cricket. Panesar sports a trademark black patka (a smaller version of the full Sikh turban) while playing and in cricket training. He is a crowd favourite in England, and many fans have worn patkas and fake beards while watching Panesar play.

Despite his embryonic international career Panesar often receives loud cheers whenever he comes on to bat or bowl and when he fields the ball, the latter due to Panesar's history of less than skilful fielding. When first selected for England he was widely said to be a particularly inept batsman and fielder, which may have contributed to this reception; the TMS commentator Henry Blofeld once accidentally referred to him as Monty Python,[1] a mistake possibly encouraged by his comic reputation. However in more recent matches he has lived down these claims, and gained further popularity with his characteristic wicket-taking celebration, which consists of him gambolling down the pitch and high fiveing his team-mates.

Personal life

Panesar a devout Sikh has a large supportive family both in England and Punjab, his parents having migrated to England from India in the late 1970s.[2] His father, Paramjeet Singh Panesar, who moved to England in 1979, is a builder. His mother is Gursharan Kaur. Panesar has a younger brother, Isher Singh Panesar, and sister, Charanjit Kaur Panesar. His family lives in Luton. Monty is a devoted Luton Town fan.

Panesar has been quoted as saying, “I follow Sikhism, and maybe I’ve channelled the discipline that religion creates into my cricket. There’s discipline with any religion, and you can take it into a game or into anything else." (The Sunday Times, August 06, 2006).[3] Away from cricket, he has a degree in computer science.[4] Panesar has uncut hair and a full length beard, which is a fundamental part of the Sikh identity and way of life. He won the 2006 Beard of the Year competition run by the Beard Liberation Front.[5]

Nicknames for Panesar include "The Montster", "The Python" (a reference to Monty Python), The "Sikh of Tweak" (probably a humorous reference to Australian leg-spinner Shane Warne's (though mispronounced) sobriquet, 'The Sheik of Tweak)', [6] "Montastic", "Parmesan Tony" (an anagram),[7][8] "The Beard to be Feared", or most popular "The Turbanator" (though this can also refer to Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh).

Cricketing ability

Panesar is regarded as a bright prospect by some commentators including Geoffrey Boycott and most of the TMS team , and has been singled out for high praise by some. Noteworthy praise came from former England head coach Duncan Fletcher, who, although initially reluctant to single out Panesar, described him as "the best finger spinner in the world".[9]

He was selected as a Wisden Cricketer of the Year in the 2007 edition.

Work ethic

Panesar loves training and is becoming renowned for being a fastidious worker, regularly leaving the practice ground after everyone else. According to Andrew Strauss, who has captained him in four Tests, Panesar "will be on the ground earlier than anyone, getting (ex-assistant coach) Matthew Maynard to hit catches to him. He will then bowl through most of the net session, before staying out long after most of the guys are back in the comfort of the dressing room, working on his batting, learning new shots, and perfecting those he already has."[10]

Bowling

Panesar bowls in the nets at Adelaide Oval

Monty has certain physical attributes that help with his spin bowling. Firstly he has an unusually large hand, measuring 10 inches,[11] and can also rotate his hand at his wrist through 360 degrees.[12]

Panesar's current bowling average, which hovers at 28.40, compares reasonably favourably with the more established finger-spinners such as Harbhajan Singh and Daniel Vettori. Panesar demonstrated his ability to take Test wickets in his first match in Nagpur, India, where his first Test wicket was that of the highly respected Indian batsman Sachin Tendulkar. He also bowled batsmen Rahul Dravid and Mohammad Kaif. In the 2006 Test Series against Sri Lanka, Panesar claimed his first five-wicket haul for 78 runs, in the third Test at Trent Bridge. Monty went on to take 5 for 92 and 3 for 145 in the 3rd test match in Australia, in December 2006, despite England losing the match.

In an interview with UK Newspaper the Daily Mirror, Panesar stated his intention to develop a left-handed version of the doosra, the off-spinner's version of the googly:

I am working on my version of the doosra - a ball which turns the other way - but we will just have to see what happens with it. As I gradually add things, it is one of my ambitions to be the best. It would be nice one day to be recognised as that.

On 11 June 2007, Monty became the first English spinner to take 10 wickets in a match since Phil Tufnell when he returned match figures of 10/187. This was achieved against the West Indies in the Third Test at Old Trafford.

Batting

Panesar has shown signs of potential but is not yet a confident batsman, averaging about seven runs per innings. His best international innings was against Sri Lanka at Trent Bridge in 2006, when Panesar scored 26 off 28 balls by employing the sweep shot, including a swept six. In the 2006 Perth, Ashes Test Match, Panesar scored an unbeaten 16 runs, putting on the biggest partnership of the innings with fellow bowler Steve Harmison.

Fielding

Panesar's fielding has been the subject of much discussion. Former England coach Duncan Fletcher had previously gone so far as to suggest that this could keep him out of the side if it does not improve. At the start of his Test career, this led to loud sardonic cheers from the crowd for completing even the simplest fielding tasks. Many commentators believe that his fielding has since improved somewhat; he held an impressive catch in England's third Test match against Pakistan at Headingley in 2006.

Concerns over his fielding was shown in the 3rd test match against India when a ball was hit towards him at long-off. He seemed to lose the ball in the background and the ball landed five yards away from him, when it should have been an easy catch. He did however make up for that error when he caught one a few minutes later at long-off. In the season of 2006 (after the first test at Lord's against Pakistan) it was discovered that Monty required a different type of contact lenses to the ones that he had been wearing previously[citation needed], it is unknown whether these helped his fielding, despite his remarkable improvement.

Early domestic career

Originally a medium-pace bowler, he shifted to spin at around sixteen following advice from Northamptonshire. Panesar played cricket at Bedford Modern School for Stopsley High School and then Dunstable Town CC, before being selected for the England Under-19 team. His first-class debut came in 2001 at the age of 19. His appearances over the next few years were limited, partly because of his commitment as a full-time student at Loughborough University. After graduating, he became a more important member of the team and had a fine season in 2005, taking 46 County Championship wickets at an average of just 21.54.

International career

Test selection

See also: English cricket team in India in 2005-06

Due to his performances in 2005, many prominent figures called for Panesar's inclusion in the English Test squad for the 2006 tour of India.[13][14][15] For a place as back-up spinner to incumbent Ashley Giles he faced competition from left-armer Ian Blackwell and off-spinners Shaun Udal and Alex Loudon. It was suggested that his reputation for poor batting and fielding might hamper his chances of selection, but earlier in 2005 he had attended the Darren Lehmann Academy in Adelaide in order to address these issues. He was selected in January 2006 for the tour to India, and made his international debut in the first Test against India in Nagpur. He took three wickets, including India's ex and current captains, Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid. The former, who Panesar states was his childhood hero and was the spinner's first international Test wicket, later signed the cricket ball that dismissed him and presented it to Panesar.[16] Panesar went on to play in the second and third Test matches, in Mohali and Mumbai with thirty-five of his family members attending the Test at Mohali, Punjab.[17]

Sri Lanka and Pakistan in England, 2006

See also: Sri Lankan cricket team in England in 2006 and Pakistani cricket team in England in 2006

On 11 May 2006 Panesar made his maiden Test appearance in England against Sri Lanka at Lord's. He played a small role in the first and second Tests, taking only five wickets.[18][19] He was to fare better in the third by claiming his first five wicket haul with bowling figures of 5/78.[20] He followed this up with an explosive innings of 26 from 28 balls that included a 6 and put on 37 for the final wicket with Liam Plunkett. This was not enough to affect the result as Sri Lanka won the Test by 134 runs.[21]

Panesar took 3 wickets in the first innings of the Test against Pakistan at Old Trafford, Manchester, on 27 June 2006. His wicket-taking was overshadowed by Steve Harmison who took a six wicket haul to get Pakistan all out for 119 in the 1st innings. However, Panesar took 5-72 in the second innings, and Harmison 5-57. The pair took 19 of the 20 Pakistani wickets in the match (the other being a run out) in an innings-and-120-run victory. This was the first time two bowlers had taken all bowling wickets since Jim Laker's record match figures of 19 for 90 again at Old Trafford. In the second innings Panesar took the wickets of five of the six specialist batsmen, including Inzamam-ul-Haq, Younis Khan and Mohammad Yousuf.

In the first innings at Headingley, Panesar picked up 3 wickets including that of Inzamam-ul-Haq, who overbalanced and dislodged the bails with his stomach. In the second innings Panesar had figures of 3 for 39. Panesar was given some credit for responding to criticism from England coach Duncan Fletcher.[22] Despite his performances in the Test arena against Pakistan in the summer of 2006, Panesar was overlooked for the 30 man ODI squad for the 2006 ICC Champion's Trophy in India.

England in Australia, 2006–7

See also: 2006-07 Ashes series and English cricket team in Australia in 2006-07
Panesar bowls in The Ashes series as Flintoff watches

The likelihood of Panesar playing against Australia in the 2006-07 Ashes series led to media commentary by some Australian players, who indicated that they would take an aggressive approach towards him[citation needed]. Australian captain Ricky Ponting said, "We'll try to make some sort of impact on him early on, and we won't let him get on top. The way our left-handers, especially Justin Langer and Matty Hayden, play spin is to be fairly aggressive." However, he was also praised by Ponting. Ponting told the Sunday Age, "He (Panesar) didn't look like he was scared to throw the ball up a little bit and actually try and get you out. He's got good, subtle changes of pace and, watching the other night (against Pakistan), a really good arm ball as well."

Darren Lehmann said "He's probably a more attacking bowler than Giles was, and a wicket-taking option for them, more so than Giles was." Also stating on the possibility of Australian crowds targeting Panesar because of his poor fielding and batting, Lehmann stuck up for Panesar saying ."He should have no worries at all... He's a beautiful lad."[23]

It also emerged that Panesar had been seeing a sports psychologist and talking to former England left-arm spinner Phil Tufnell, another English spinner who was poor at fielding, about the ribbing he is expecting to get from the Aussie crowds on the tour, and how to prepare himself mentally for the task.

Panesar was left out of the England team for the first two tests of the series, which led to a petition being started by BBC Radio Five Live, calling out for his inclusion.[24] Panesar was eventually selected to play in the third test at the WACA in Perth. He finished the first innings with figures of 5 for 92 off 24 overs, with Justin Langer, Andrew Symonds and Adam Gilchrist among his wickets, becoming the first English spin bowler to take five wickets in a test match at the WACA in Perth, his other two wickets being Shane Warne and Brett Lee. He also performed respectably with the bat, finishing on 16 not out as part of England's best partnership in the innings.

During the Tests Panesar played, he quickly became a crowd favourite for both Australian and English fans, eliciting cheers from the crowd when fielding, bowling or batting.

He remained in the team for the rest of the series, finishing with a record of 10 wickets at an average of 37.90 and collecting a total of 35 runs. He was the joint third highest wicket taker for England behind Matthew Hoggard and Andrew Flintoff, tying with Steve Harmison, having only played in three out of the five tests.

After the Ashes series, Panesar was selected in the England squad for the Commonwealth Bank series with Australia and New Zealand.

Panesar's attacking bowling style worked well, bowling economically and aggressively in equal parts. He made his debut against Australia at Melbourne on 12th January 2007 and played in nine matches in the series, taking nine wickets and conceding just 4.6 runs per over.

Career in 2007

See also: 2007 Cricket World Cup, West Indian cricket team in England in 2007, and Indian cricket team in England in 2007

Following his impressive performances in the Ashes and Commonwealth Bank series Panesar was selected in England's World Cup squad. He struggled to pick up wickets, taking only 7 wickets at a average of 40.42. His best performance came on 11 April, 2007 in a Super Eight's group game against Bangladesh where he took 3/25 off his 7 overs which included 2 maidens.

Monty's first six wicket haul came in the first Innings of the first Test against the West Indies at Lord's on May 19th-20th 2007 when he took 6-129. Five of his six victims were trapped LBW, all given out by the Nursery End umpire Asad Rauf.

His first 10 wicket haul came in the third Test of the same series when he took four wickets in the first Innings and six wickets in the second Innings at Old Trafford on June 7th-11th 2007, the first English spin bowler to take ten wickets in a match for ten years, (Phil Tufnell in 1997 being the last occurrence). He was awarded Man of the Match for his 10-187 by the Sky Sports panel. He also took the otherwise immovable Shiv Chanderpaul's wicket to seal the West Indian second innings in the final match at Chester le Street and give Panesar his 6th five-wicket haul. Panesar was however not selected for the following Twenty20 matches, with both sides electing not to include full-time spinners in their sides.

Achievements

Awards

Test match performance

Test debut: vs India, Vidarbha Cricket Association Ground, March 1, 2006.[25]

Statistics correct as of 2007-07-30.
Source: Cricinfo. 		Batting[26] Bowling[27]
Opposition Matches Runs Average High Score 100 / 50 Runs Wickets Average Best (Inns)
Australia 3 35 7.00 16* 0 / 0 379 10 37.90 5/92
India 5 20 3.33 9 0 / 0 498 11 45.27 4/101
Pakistan 4 13 13.00 5* 0 / 0 515 17 30.29 5/72
Sri Lanka 3 26 13.00 26 0 / 0 210 10 21.00 5/78
West Indies 4 21 10.50 14* 0 / 0 430 23 18.69 6/129
Overall 19 115 7.18 26 0 / 0 2032 71 28.61 6/129
A graph showing Panesar's test career bowling statistics and how they have varied over time.

Man of the match awards:

Date Opponent Ground Record/Scorecards
7 June–11 June 2007 West Indies Old Trafford Cricket Ground, Manchester Bowling: 10/187

Man of the Series awards:

Date Opponents Record/Series link
17 May–19 June 2007 West Indies 23 wickets at an average of 18.69 (1 ten wicket-haul, 3 five wicket-hauls); 1 catch. 4 matches

One-day International performance

ODI debut: vs Australia, Melbourne - Jan 12 2007[25]

Statistics correct as of 2007-07-07.
Source: Cricketarchive. 		Batting[28] Bowling[29]
Opposition Matches Runs Average High Score 100 / 50 Runs Wickets Average Best
Australia 6 1 - 1* 0 / 0 236 4 59.00 2/44
Bangladesh 1 - - - 0 / 0 25 3 8.33 3/25
Canada 1 - - - 0 / 0 35 1 35.00 1/35
India 3 - - - 0 / 0 135 3 45.00 1/39


Ireland 1 - - - 0 / 0 31 2 15.50 2/31
Kenya 1 - - - 0 / 0 28 0 - -
New Zealand 5 6 6.00 6 0 / 0 200 6 33.33 2/35
South Africa 1 2 2.00 2 0 / 0 24 0 - -
Sri Lanka 1 - - - 0 / 0 45 0 - -
West Indies 2 14 7.00 13 0 / 0 57 1 57.00 1/29
Overall 19 23 5.75 13 0 / 0 681 17 40.05 3/25

Notes

  1. ^ http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?view=DETAILS&grid=&xml=/sport/2006/05/21/scaths221.xml
  2. ^ http://www.ecb.co.uk/england/panesar-set-to-make-history,7170,EN.html
  3. ^ http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2094-2300484,00.html
  4. ^ "Juggling with destiny" 29 october 2006
  5. ^ http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/tms/2006/12/monty_beard_of_the_year_2006.shtml
  6. ^ http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/england/6178327.stm
  7. ^ http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/606/A21721529
  8. ^ http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/606/A21871866
  9. ^ Booth, Lawrence (2006-08-10). "Fletcher finally heaps praise on Panesar". Guardian.
  10. ^ http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2006/08/13/scstra13.xml
  11. ^ Robert Craddock and Jon Pierik (2006-12-14). "Monty's Massive Paw". Courier Mail.
  12. ^ Scyld Berry (2006-11-9). "The Hand of Monty". Telegraph. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  13. ^ Soni, Paresh (2006-01-09). "Coach backs Panesar England claim". BBC.
  14. ^ Lillywhite, Jamie (2006-01-26). "Emburey wants specialists picked". BBC.
  15. ^ "Jonathan Agnew column". BBC. 2006-02-28.
  16. ^ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/england/6897015.stm Panesar treasures Tendulkar prize] BBC News retrieved July 13 2007
  17. ^ http://www.tribuneindia.com/2006/20060310/cth1.htm
  18. ^ "England v Sri Lanka at Lord's". BBC. 2006-05-11.
  19. ^ "England v Sri Lanka at Edgbaston". BBC. 2006-05-25.
  20. ^ "Statsguru - MS Panesar - Test Bowling". Cricinfo. 2006-03-01.
  21. ^ "England v Sri Lanka at Trent Bridge". BBC. 2006-06-02.
  22. ^ http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/engvpak/content/story/255171.html
  23. ^ http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/4788369.stm
  24. ^ http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/fivelivebreakfast/2006/12/the_breakfast_panesar_petition.html
  25. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference cricinfo was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  26. ^ "Test Batting and Fielding Against Each Opponent by Monty Panesar". Cricketarchive. Retrieved 2007-08-03.
  27. ^ "Test Bowling Against Each Opponent Monty Panesar". Cricketarchive. Retrieved 2007-08-03.
  28. ^ "ODI Batting and Fielding Against Each Opponent by Monty Panesar". Cricketarchive. Retrieved 2007-08-07.
  29. ^ "ODI Bowling Against Each Opponent by Monty Panesar". Cricketarchive. Retrieved 2007-08-07.
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