Sri Lanka tour experience crucial: Panesar

Published December 26, 2007

LONDON, Dec 25: England spinner Monty Panesar is convinced his miserable tour of Sri Lanka can help him become a world-class bowler.

Panesar, 25, took only eight wickets as England lost their recent three-Test series in Sri Lanka 1-0.

The spinner’s lacklustre displays were interpreted as a sign that he is stagnating after an impressive start to his international career. But Panesar believes it is inevitable he will suffer at times against the world’s best players and he expects to bounce back against New Zealand.

“There has been a lot of focus on my bowling in this series but let me tell you straight away that I am looking at the whole experience in a very positive way as I head home to reflect and rest before we go to New Zealand at the end of January,” he told the Daily Mail.—AFP