|
|
|
| December 15, 2006 | Friday | Ziqa'ad 23, 1427 |
Diplomatic Monty defends English selectors
PERTH, Dec 14: A diplomatic Monty Panesar said on Thursday he did not harbour any ill-feeling towards the England selectors after he celebrated his belated Ashes debut with a five-wicket haul.
The left-arm orthodox spinner, controversially overlooked for the first two Tests, was finally given his chance when the English selectors dropped the ineffective Ashley Giles.
Panesar immediately made his omission appear even more baffling by taking 5-92 to become the first England spinner to grab five Test wickets in an innings at the WACA.
Panesar's inclusion was the major talking point in the lead-up to the match but the 24-year-old resisted any temptation to criticise the selectors.
“It's flattering people back home want me to play but for me, I can't really let other things affect me,” he told a news conference.
“I trust the selectors' judgment and trust whenever they feel it's right.
“You back the 11 players that go out there and you remain positive.
“Ultimately I got selected on the Ashes squad. They felt I should be here so I trust their judgment when I should play.
Panesar, the first Sikh to represent England in Test cricket, bowled Justin Langer with his seventh delivery then claimed the scalps of Andrew Symonds, Adam Gilchrist, Shane Warne and Brett Lee to put the tourists in a strong position after they lost the first two tests. England need to win two of the remaining three Tests to retain the Ashes.
“These are the sort of things you dream of, playing Test cricket and taking five-for,” he said.
“But for me I'm just grateful to get the opportunity to play more than anything. Bowling on a first day pitch was quite tough and it was important to me that I focus on my own game and not let my team mates down.”
Panesar was in danger of being taken out of the attack when all-rounder Andrew Symonds smacked 17 runs, including two huge sixes, off one over.
But England skipper Andrew Flintoff kept faith in Panesar and he responded by dismissing Symonds then Gilchrist in his next two overs.
“Sometimes you've just got to acknowledge that batsmen do play good shots and he (Symonds) hit really well but we didn't panic,” Panesar said.
“It was important for us to stay patient there because sometimes batsmen can get on top of you. For us it was just important that we didn't really change anything and just stuck to what we were good at.
“I'm pleased with the way the ball came out and it was important for me to get the balls in the right areas, especially on the first day.
“I wasn't really trying to bowl any differently and just holding my lines and I was pleased to get my first five-for on an Ashes tour.”
Most of the Australian batsmen made starts but the only one to make a significant score was left-hander Mike Hussey, who finished unbeaten on 74 after chalking up his fourth successive half-century of the series.
Hussey was a team-mate of Panesar's at Northamptonshire and the pair have spent hours training together in the nets.
“I thought he bowled well, there's no question about that, but he certainly got the rewards today. I thought all the England bowlers bowled well but Panesar got the rewards today,” Hussey said.—Reuters
|
|
|
|
