If (god forbid, etc) Swann does miss out (word on Sky was "no major damage, but reassessed in the morning") and Monty was overlooked for Rashid or Borthwick the tinfoil hat brigade will have a field day now.Once Swann hurt his hand (he's fine from waht I've read anyway) the first thing I thought of is that Panesar may play in the series. That to me means Flower is probably right.
Surely all of this could have been handled behind closed doors though?
Not so as I've noticed. There's occasionally a vaguely condescending air from some quarters when he's less than utterly **** with bat and/or in the field and some of the more considered writers (Vic Marks for one) aren't impressed with his cricket smarts, but Monty's never been a whipping boy like (say) Bell or Prior have been at various times in their careers.Speaking of tinfoil hat brigade. I noticed shivfan referred to this as 'yet another anti-Panesar comment from the media'. Did I miss something? Do the media have it in for Monty?
Probably true and doubt it would happen, but both Rashid and Borthwick can bat too (the latter just made his maiden FC ton versus the touring SL "A" side), so there would be solid cricketing reasons to select either ahead of Monty (I wouldn't, ftr), but, as I alluded to, there's a distinct possibility certain quarters wouldn't see it like that.Getting a Leggie to make his debut against India won't be the wisest thing to do, tbf.
Yeah, that's what I thought.Not so as I've noticed. There's occasionally a vaguely condescending air from some quarters when he's less than utterly **** with bat and/or in the field and some of the more considered writers (Vic Marks for one) aren't impressed with his cricket smarts, but Monty's never been a whipping boy like (say) Bell or Prior have been at various times in their careers.
This.Such a big non issue.
Heck Panasar might even improve as a spinner with the experience of bowling to such a great batsman. Its unlikely to be something Tendulkar has never seen before over a 20 year career.
Big deal! Cotterrell was in the West Indies squad for their 20/20 match against Pakistan, and the WICB had no issues with him bowling to Indian batsmen. When was the last time Panesar was in an England squad?The difference is Panesar is part of the England Performance squad and his job, apart from being back up to Swann, who has now maybe broken his hand, is to bowl at the England batsmen, that's what he's being paid to do while he's at the ground.
Well, from what I've seen in certain elements of the English press, I'd say yes, and I'm a neutral, i.e. West Indies fan. Let me remind you that Monty is not of Caribbean origin, so I have no particular loyalty to him, as I do to Michael Carberry, whom I feel was shabbily treated a year or two ago. The Sun wasn't the only one to call Monty a 'fool', which they would never do to the more cherished members of the England side.Speaking of tinfoil hat brigade. I noticed shivfan referred to this as 'yet another anti-Panesar comment from the media'. Did I miss something? Do the media have it in for Monty?
He was last in an England squad two series ago...for the Ashes. He's also in the Performance Squad, as many have noted, and is our second choice spinner.Big deal! Cotterrell was in the West Indies squad for their 20/20 match against Pakistan, and the WICB had no issues with him bowling to Indian batsmen. When was the last time Panesar was in an England squad?
Sometimes I think that England are losing touch with what the spirit of cricket is all about. If the WICB had reprimanded Cotterrell the way Flower treated Monty, I would've been most upset with them. Thankfully, there's at least one thing the WICB can do right....
Examples please.Well, from what I've seen in certain elements of the English press, I'd say yes, and I'm a neutral, i.e. West Indies fan. Let me remind you that Monty is not of Caribbean origin, so I have no particular loyalty to him, as I do to Michael Carberry, whom I feel was shabbily treated a year or two ago.
As GIMH as said he was in the Ashes squad as back up to Swann which is 2 series ago.Big deal! Cotterrell was in the West Indies squad for their 20/20 match against Pakistan, and the WICB had no issues with him bowling to Indian batsmen. When was the last time Panesar was in an England squad?
Sometimes I think that England are losing touch with what the spirit of cricket is all about. If the WICB had reprimanded Cotterrell the way Flower treated Monty, I would've been most upset with them. Thankfully, there's at least one thing the WICB can do right....