Panesar stars as England rout India

The slow left armer, who hadn’t even been selected for England’s first Test defeat, took figures of 11-210 in the game as India were bowled out for 327 and 142, in reply to the tourists total of 413.

That left England with a victory target of just 57, which they knocked off emphatically without losing a wicket.

Batsman Kevin Pietersen took the man of the match award with his stunning 186, but was quick to praise the efforts of Panesar and fellow spinner Graeme Swann.

He said: “Panesar, Swann were outstanding in that second innings. What a difference a week makes.”

Meanwhile, opposing captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni felt Panesar had been the difference between the two sides as he said: “None of the other bowlers troubled the batsmen in the way that Monty did.”

The third Test starts in Kolkata next Wednesday.

For more, see the News/Gazette on sale this Wednesday.