Lamb's faith is still in Monty
Allan Lamb is sure that Northamptonshire's spin king Monty Panesar can rediscover his top form in time for the first Ashes Test.
Panesar took three wickets as England skittled Warwickshire for 102 yesterday in their warm-up match for next week's first Test in Cardiff.
Before yesterday, the slow left-armer had taken just six first-class wickets all season and fallen down the England spin pecking order behind former team-mate Graeme Swann and Yorkshire leg-spinner Adil Rashid.
But Lamb believes if Panesar can quickly rebuild his confidence he could still win his place in the side and be a force as England look sure to go with two spinners in Cardiff.
"England have to go with the men in form," said Lamb.
"Hopefully that will be Monty after this week. Rashid looks a good bowler, though as a young leg-spinner the Aussies will go after him.
"If Monty gets his confidence back then he can still take wickets at that level, he has shown that in the past."
Panesar has not played any international cricket for four months, last appearing against the West Indies in Trinidad. And he has hardly started this season in a blaze of glory.
But his Test record ranks alongside any of England's post-war spinners with only Derek Underwood bettering his average of 33.72 for 125 wickets from 38 games.
Panesar's faltering form has coincided with continuing calls for more variety from the 27-year-old.
Australia legend Shane Warne has been the most vociferous saying
Panesar hasn't played 38 Tests, but the same Test 38 times.
And Lamb feels the criticism has affected Panesar.
"There have been too many people trying to coach him," added Lamb.
"I was in India and I saw Monty bowling before the game, then being taken out at lunch and bowling and then bowling after the day's play.
It is too much for the guy.
"There has been too much coaching of him. There are too many things going on in his head and it has affected his confidence.
"People said he was bowling too quickly in India and he probably was.
"But that has brought him success, especially in England, and he should get back to that."
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Sunday 27 May 2012
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