19.07.08
The Times - Panesar in need of variety performance
When a bowler stands at the top of his mark, there is a simple question that should be in his mind: how am I going to get the batsman out? It sounds obvious, but watching the first Test between England and South Africa at Lord’s last week, it did not seem clear to me that Monty Panesar was thinking along those lines.
Spin bowling is not about where the ball lands, but how it gets there. Two balls hitting the same spot can go on towards the batsman in different ways, depending on the delivery. Does it have side spin or over spin? Was it bowled from close to the stumps or wide in the crease? Was it quicker or slower? Was there drift or dip?
There are so many variations, but it looked as though Panesar was bowling the same ball again and again for more than 60 overs in South Africa’s second innings, waiting for batsmen to make a mistake. When those batsmen are looking to save a game, as Graeme Smith, Neil McKenzie and Hashim Amla were during the last two days, that is not enough.
England have drawn the past six Tests at Lord’s, with Panesar playing in all of them. I believe that he needs to learn from his experiences at grounds, remember the things that work for him and develop a store of knowledge. After two or three games at a place, you should know how a pitch is likely to behave.
If the Lord’s surface does get flatter as games go on, Panesar should know that by now. It should give him an advantage as he tries to out-think batsmen, but in the first Test he did not ask many questions. I did not see a ball at 42mph followed by one at 63mph, for example, or much variation in the point of delivery.
He has a very good mentor in Michael Vaughan, who is an excellent captain and sets good, attacking fields. Vaughan is the best captain in England, followed by a lot of daylight. He has also done a bit of spin bowling in the past, but I also believe that Panesar has to work out more for himself. There is no doubt about his ability. He just needs to look at ways of taking the next steps to becoming even more effective and to think about his bowling: mix it up, set up the batsman with a plan and if he is not quite sure of the way ahead, get the bloke driving.
I should reserve judgment on Paul Harris, the South Africa left-arm spinner, because he is yet to bowl on the fourth or fifth day, but it would be nice to see him turn it off the straight. A spin bowler must want to see the ball spin. It looks as though he has some work to do.
England have found a good bowler in Darren Pattinson and I reckon people in Australia will be delighted for him. Seriously. He is a really nice, sound guy and the type of player you want in your side. He is tough, he is a trier and his last over will be as quick as his first – well, what else would you expect from a Victorian?
It is an unbelievable story, a Cinderella fairytale. Two seasons ago he was a club cricketer who filled in for the Vics when we needed him. Last winter was his first full campaign and he did pretty well. I tried to get him to play for Hampshire, but David Hussey persuaded him to sign for Nottinghamshire. I am pretty sure that he did not come over with the intention of playing Test cricket, but things have taken off and circumstances mean that he has had to make a choice between England and Australia.
I do not blame him for going the way he has this week, but it will be funny if he plays against us in the Ashes next summer.
Now he is in the England set-up, who knows what he could do? It is a big test of his temperament, but I do not see any reason why he cannot do a good job. He is quicker than he looks, hits the bat hard, swings it and has the strength to bowl long spells. I hope he does really well.
Being picked to captain the World XI chosen by the four Times cricket correspondents past and present on Monday was a big honour. All of their choices, going back to Donald Bradman, a legend in our country, had a big impact on the game and most of the team changed things in one way or another.
It looks a fun side to lead and I like the balance with Garry Sobers and Ian Botham in the top six of the batting order. Looking at the bowling options, I could use Dennis Lillee and Malcolm Marshall to blast away the top order, then get Muttiah Muralitharan on and save myself for nine, ten, jack. Yes, it would be an absolute pleasure.