Panesar stakes his claim with five-star show
ENGLAND spinner Monty Panesar may have forced head coach Andy Flower into a re-think ahead of next week’s first Test against Pakistan after he staked an unlikely case for selection by taking five wickets against a PCB XI yesterday.
Panesar’s chances of adding to his 39 caps next week remain remote,however, especially after Graeme Swann, who bowled better than figures of 1-42 suggest, showed no reaction to the thigh problem that that has troubled him on this tour.
Still, the 29-tear-old could have done little more than take 5-57 to offer a timely reminder to the selectors of his qualities, following the elbow injury which has ruled Tim Bresnan out of all three Tests.
Panesar’s was the outstanding contribution as England reduced their opponents to 200-9 before they declared their first innings 69 runs adrift. The tourists extended that lead to 151 by the close with Jonathan Trott, promoted up the order, unbeaten on 39 and skipper Andrew Strauss not out 36.