Mushtaq is hopeful about Monty

The England team is in St.Kitts in the Carribean preparing for their first practice match of the Windies Tour. The Englishmen are without a head coach after the controversy between Kevin Pietersen and Peter Moores led to Moores departure. Although they do not have a head coach, they are not short of senior officials in the team.

Mushtaq Ahmed is one such entity who will try to brighten the prospects of the English team by guiding Monty Panesar with his experience. This is Mushtaq’s first official stint as the spin-bowling coach. Mushtaq could not tour India due to visa problems. But this time around he hopes to bring about a change in Graeme Swann and Panesar.

Mushtaq Mushtaq has a limited amount of time to help Panesar and then it will be down to the man himself. Andrew Strauss has said how he wants the England players to look after their own requirements much more on this tour, but Mushtaq said it is important for spinners to work together. Panesar has to prove his credentials as a match-winner this time around. Apart from his 6 for 37 against New Zealand at Old Trafford, he struggled to make an impact against South Africa and more significantly in favorable conditions against India. He managed just six wickets in two Tests and was considerably out-bowled by Graeme Swann, leaving him with a real fight for his place for the first time since he was surprisingly left out at the start of the 2006-07 Ashes series.

Mushtaq wants to develop some new techniques for Panesar to add to his arsenal and wants to make it a point to try it out in the field. Mushtaq himself will be facing a test as it is his first stint as coach at any post and any level. It has been hard for him to get any coaching job, post the Qayyum match –fixing commission which cleared him of match-fixing charges.

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