Cricket story by Boris Webb, Sat, 28 Jan 2006 02:24:00 GMT


Monty Panesar has been called up for England duty for the tour of India in February/March as a cover for the injured Ashley Giles. The latter had undergone a hip operation and is looking unlikely to be ready to start the tour.

England selectors had left one spot vacant and they have now filled this up with Panesar's selection. The 23-year-old left-arm spinner plays for Northamptonshire and has had a productive season grabbing 46 Championship wickets at 21.54.

The last two months have seen Panesar in Australia practicing and improving his batting and fielding skills, "He took the initiative in approaching the selectors before Christmas to discuss how he could improve his game," said David Graveney. "We are delighted with the progress he has made following his recent trip to Adelaide."

Panesar got the vacant spot ahead of Ian Blackwell and Alex Loudon. Giles could be fit for the last two tests, but he will definitely miss the first one starting in Nagpur on March 1. "The expert advice we have received is that Ashley will need to rest if he is to achieve maximum benefit from surgery," said Dr Peter Gregory, chief medical officer of the ECB. "The medical team's current view is that it is unlikely that he will be fit for the start of the tour of India. But he will continue with his rehabilitation program as pain allows and the medical team will continue to monitor his progress closely."

Panesar made his first-class debut in 2001 against Leicestershire and impressed immediately taking eight for 131. He is also working on a computer management degree in Loughborough and honing up on his cricketing skills as well. If he starts for England in India, he will be the first Sikh to play for the country.

England Test Squad
Michael Vaughan (Capt), Ian Bell, Paul Collingwood, Andrew Flintoff, Ashley Giles, Stephen Harmison, Matthew Hoggard, Geraint Jones, Simon Jones, Monty Panesar, Kevin Pietersen, Liam Plunkett, Matthew Prior, Andrew Strauss, Marcus Trescothick, Shaun Udal.

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