The Northants coach David Capel sees a serious role for Monty Panesar in one-day cricket. Heralded as the best finger spinner in the world by England’s Duncan Fletcher, Panesar has played only seven one-day games, all for Northants.

“In time Monty has a lot of good things to offer as a specialist spinner in one-day cricket,” says Capel, who has taken over with the captain David Sales since the director of cricket Kepler Wessels’ departure. “It is the age-old argument of specialists playing in one-day cricket, whether they be fast bowlers or spinners. In my opinion they have a role to play.

“I understand the philosophy Duncan Fletcher has in making sure all our top bowlers can bat and field, and they’ve got to be very competent in those two departments. But recent history
has been littered with people like Shane Warne, Muttiah Muralitharan, Harbhajan Singh and Anil Kumble, who win one-day games with the way they bowl. “Monty still has to develop his skills further in one-day cricket but I believe he has the potential to do that. He’s confident and wants to have a go at not only one-day cricket with us but with England as well.”

Ashley Potter, The Wisden Cricketer