Dead-pan Panesar ready for Australia
On Friday England’s Test squad sets off on the journey of a lifetime, from London to Sydney via Hong Kong, to begin their defence of the Ashes. This morning, Monty Panesar made a journey of a much more prosaic nature - from Luton to a park in Denmark Hill, South London, where he sat in a bandstand fielding questions and shivering in a biting autumnal breeze.
It was a far cry from the conditions he’ll face Down Under. Panesar is England’s not-so-secret weapon for the Ashes. Spared the rigours of the recent ICC Champions Trophy, he has being whiling away the hours since the end of the English season with gym and net sessions at the National Academy in Loughborough and at his county base in Northants. "I’ve just been keeping myself busy," he told the assembled press corps. "I’m really excited about going to Australia, I’m really looking forward to it."
Panesar is a cricketer of his times when it comes to press conferences. He’s not a man for the big statement, he just prefers to stick to "good areas" and let the ball do the talking. Australia, he points out, "is very passionate about cricket"; the prospect of big crowds are "exciting"; his hopes of playing in the Tests depend on "whatever the management feels is right". He is maddeningly yet gloriously deadpan.
One senses that nothing will ever rattle his cage - which is a useful character trait to possess when you have Australia’s finest lining up to tonk you out of the park. "It’ll all be part of my development," he shrugs with a quiet confidence. Four years ago, he was part of the academy squad that provided back-up to England’s walking wounded Test team. "I felt pretty comfortable out there. Rod Marsh taught me a few things, and it was beneficial. I got a few wickets, and there’s a bit more bounce, which helps the spinners."
