England’s Panesar ready for Ashes call-up

PERTH (Australia)—Much-vaunted England spinner Monty Panesar says he is ready to produce if given an Ashes call-up, despite a lack of match practice on the tour.
The left-arm finger spinner was a frustrated onlooker for the first two Tests, with England selectors preferring Ashley Giles’ extra experience and superior batting ability. However, there was widespread criticism of that decision in the wake of England’s stunning second Test loss in Adelaide, following on their defeat in the first Test, and Panesar seems certain to be recalled for the third which starts December 14 at the WACA Ground. Panesar gets his chance to impress the selectors in Friday’s Lilac Hill festival match and England’s subsequent two-day tour match against Western Australia on Saturday and Sunday. The 24-year-old hasn’t played since taking just two wickets in the tour match against South Australia from November 17-19, but said he was ready to tackle the Australians. “I played in the warm-up games and I’m going to play in the warm-up games this week,” Panesar said here Thursday. “I think I have bowled a fair bit and also in the nets during the two Test matches I haven’t played in. I have got a fair bit of bowling done already since I have been in Australia.
“I am pretty happy with the way the ball is coming out and the way I have been bowling. “I just have to continue to build on the way I have been bowling in these conditions.” Panesar said his third Test chances hinged on bowling well at Lilac Hill and in the match against Western Australia.—Agencies