Panesar heads home as he dreams of an England recall

Monty Panesar was back to Luton Sixth Form College recently

Last Saturday, he was sitting in the Wardown Park pavilion, watching the end of the record breaking one day series between England and New Zealand, waiting for the rain to clear, so he could go and spin the St Margaretsbury batsmen into submission.

Finding himself out of the Essex first class team for two months now, Panesar is back turning out for Luton Town and Indians, who currently reside in the third tier of the Saracens Hertfordshire Cricket League.

Following a three wicket haul by the Luton-born England international at Kings Langley the previous week, the opposition would have been well aware they were due to face a man who has picked up 167 Test wickets.

As someone who believes that, at the age of 33, he still has ‘a lot more cricket’ ahead, it is clear Paensar harbours a burning desire to add to that tally too.

He told the News/Gazette: “I still want to play for England I have huge ambitions as I feel I have a huge future for England.”

As spinners rely on craft and guile, playing at the highest level up to and into your forties is more than possible.

This has been most recently been proven by Brad Hogg, who played for Australia last year at the age of 43.

Panesar is well aware though, that first he must get back into the first class game.

To do that, he must first take wickets for his boyhood club.

However, with clubs playing in various different ECB Premier Leagues in Essex and across the country, as well as local clubs like Hemel Hempstead and Flitwick in higher divisions, why go down a couple more tiers to Luton?

Panesar continued: “It is a very ambitious club. I want success at Luton Town and Indians and hopefully with by contribution of performances and being here, I can enhance that success coming to the club.”

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