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England confident Panesar’s problems are behind him

England insisted Monty Panesar’s personal problems were behind him as they included the spinner in a 17-man squad for the defence of the Ashes in Australia.

Long a fans’ favourite for his sheer enthusiasm and undoubted ability to spin the ball, the left-armer found himself making the wrong sort of headlines last month after he was fined by police for urinating on night-club bouncers in Brighton on England’s south coast.

It was all too much for the 31-year-old’s then employers Sussex, who promptly released Panesar, now completing the season on loan at rival county Essex. 

But the fact remains Panesar is England’s second best spinner behind off-break bowler Graeme Swann, a point emphasised by the wretched Test debut of Lancashire left-armer Simon Kerrigan, whose eight wicketless overs in the drawn Ashes finale at The Oval last month cost 53 runs. 

England national selector Geoff Miller, himself a former Test off-spinner, confirmed Panesar’s inclusion in a largely predictable squad led by captain Alastair Cook and featuring the bulk of a side who’ve helped the team win the last three Ashes campaigns when he announced the tour party at a Lord’s press conference on Monday.

Slightly less predictable was Miller’s reply when asked if Panesar had sought professional help for his off-field problems and whether it had helped effect a change in his behaviour: ‘Yes, and yes.’  ‘Monty had his problems, which we’ve worked hard to rectify in the last six weeks -- and he has too,’ Miller said. ‘He’s a proven bowler, who has shown what he’s capable of.’ 
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