The Hindu : Sport : Panesar has Windies in a spin

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Sunday, May 20, 2007
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Panesar has Windies in a spin

Ted Corbett

BAMBOOZLED: Devon Smith has no clue to this one from Monty Panesar. — Photo: AFP

LONDON: Monty Panesar, not just bowling with guile and control but giving England a lift by his over-the-top celebrations, cut a swathe through the West Indies batting at Lord's in the first Test.

It was supposed to be a paceman's game which England could win without help from Panesar's spin but when Matthew Hoggard damaged his thigh Pasesar showed that a good bowler will get wickets even when the pitch favours pace or even when it is a batsman's paradise like this track.

There is more to Panesar than clever spin and subtle flight. He is such a cheerful cove that England immediately looked more like a team; he is so enthusiastic that the crowd are always on his side.

Many qualities

In the same way that great comedians do not have to blink to raise a laugh, Panesar engenders a reaction simply by running or throwing or taking guard. Never mind dropping him; the new coach Peter Moores ought to treasure his many qualities.

England declared overnight which may have been a mistake since it must have been exactly what the West Indies brains trust expected. Another 20 minutes' batting would not have made any difference to the England score of 553 for five but it might have thrown its shaky opponents off balance.

In the event the West Indies began convincingly against off key bowling from Hoggard and Steve Harmison until in the 13th over Liam Plunkett got through Chris Gayle's guard with his second ball and knocked his stump out of the ground. Gayle's feet were glued to the pitch.

Daren Ganga and Devon Smith had little trouble. All the juice had gone out of the pitch that had, in players' parlance, "done a bit" on the first day and bowling was pure hard work, as the fielders were gradually dispersed and the shine wore off.

The weather went duller, the understudy captain Andrew Strauss called up Paul Collingwood, switched Hoggard to the pavilion end, tried a second spell from Harmison and then saw Hoggard limp off with a strained thigh muscle which may keep him out for the rest of the match and beyond.

Panesar strikes

England was not down for long. Panesar came on at the Nursery End and bowled Smith with his first ball playing for turn that never materialised.

Sarwan hit three fours in a couple of overs before lunch at 98 for two, overtook the patient Ganga rapidly and was top scorer 40 minutes after lunch when West Indies reached 150 off 40 overs.

It was a bold reply to England's massive total but at 151 Sarwan was lbw to Panesar who was making the ball rise steeply and almost skipping his way back to fine leg where his new fans had massed.

Even more eyes were on Matt Prior, Friday's high speed batting hero and neat keeper. He has a place for the whole summer unless he is hurt. Prior is a genuine find and those with bias based on their county allegiances ought to forget their old loyalties.

Thirteen balls later at 165 we saw another example of the Panesar war dance when he had Ganga lbw which gave him three for 20 and the key to an England victory. He got his third successive lbw victim — correctly called by umpire Asad Rauf each time — when Runako Morton stretched forward at 187.

Dwayne Bravo attempted to get after Panesar but Strauss kept three close fielders and at tea West Indies was 217 for five, still 137 short of saving the follow-on.

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