CRICKET : Monty Panesar has questioned Northamptonshire’s decision to let two English spinners leave the club and keep faith with South African slow bowler Nicky Boje.
Monty Panesar has questioned Northamptonshire’s decision to let two English spinners leave the club and keep faith with South African slow bowler Nicky Boje.
The 27-year-old has joined Sussex after struggling for wickets last season and falling down the pecking order for England, while fellow left-armer Graeme White, 22, has moved to Nottinghamshire.
Panesar, who lost his central contract this year, said: “I felt Northants were no longer working with me to become an England player. The bizarre thing is that they have also lost Graeme White to Notts, so they have lost two England-qualified, locally-produced players in favour of Nicky Boje, a South African.”
He added: “It was down to money. They had budgeted for me being an ECB centrally contracted player.
“They also have Boje as captain.
“I thought that I needed to be playing a dominant role in the team’s success, and being made to feel welcome is part of the process.”
Northamptonshire coach David Capel told The Guardian he felt Panesar’s comments were unfair, adding: “Monty played just about every match for us last season and we worked very hard on his game.
“He was usually our first spinner in the team although Graeme White was pushing him hard at times.
“We did persist with him although he bowled over 400 overs and took only 18 wickets at nearly 60 apiece.
“The club and everyone here was working with him to get him back in the England team.”
