Fletcher drops Monty hint
The 24-year-old was dropped for the first Ashes Test despite his displays against Pakistan
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Monday, 27, Nov 2006 10:33
England coach Duncan Fletcher has hinted that Monty Panesar will make his Ashes bow in Thursday's second Test at Adelaide.
Panesar, who has taken 32 wickets in ten Tests, was surprisingly axed for the first Test which England lost by 277 runs at the Gabba.
Ashley Giles was picked ahead of Panesar and finished the match with 1-113 from Australia's two innings.
And Fletcher has now indicated he is likely to play two spinners.
"I am not going to say definitely at this stage, we have just got to go and have a look at that wicket, see if it looks the same, do some investigating and then make up our mind the closer we get to the Test match," Fletcher said.
Australia are expected to pair spin king Shane Warne with Stuart MacGill who has an impressive bowling average of 27.20 from 40 Tests.
Fletcher added that his side will bounce back from their bruising in Brisbane.
"The players have spoken about it and they know they have let themselves down. We know we can play a lot better than that," Fletcher said.
"I think once we get there [Adelaide] they will work on their game and come out and show the same of sort of positivity that they did at Edgbaston and play some good cricket."