Monty Panesar hails Ravi Ashwin ahead of the start of the Test series

England spinner Monty Panesar has come out full of praise for ace Indian spinner and No.1 Test all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin. The left-arm spinner, who was instrumental in England’s successful Test tour of the Indian subcontinent in 2012, expects Ashwin to pose a tough challenge to the visitors and return the favour.

Ashwin took 27 wickets during last month’s 3-0 rout of New Zealand as he emerged the quickest to reach 220 Test wickets – in just 39 Tests. He has won the man of the series award in India’s previous 3 series triumphs and is in excellent form to increase that number further.

“He (Ashwin) said something very interesting that spin bowling is like software and it needs updating every few months, and that’s what he has done,” Panesar said. “His strength is his cricketing brain. He would help the spinners and fast bowlers as he has experience of playing in India and can help the batsmen prepare against spin bowling too,”

The 34-year-old spinner last represented England in 2013, since falling out of favour with the selectors. He managed to pick 167 scalps to become of one of the most successful English spinners in the 50 matches that he played.

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Although acknowledging that India are firm favourites going on recent form in the 5-Test series, Panesar warned the hosts to be vary of the two key English batsmen, Joe Root and captain Alastair Cook, who is England’s highest run getter and most experienced player in Test matches by a distance, and has a terrific record in Asia. He also was England’s top run getter in the previous series win in 2012.

“I feel the England’s fast bowlers have an upper hand over the Indian fast bowlers,” Panesar added. England begin the stern Indian challenge in a tour consisting of 5 Tests, 3 ODIs and 3 T20Is with the first test at Rajkot, the home ground of Ravindra Jadeja and Cheteshwar Pujara, on 9th November. The venue will also host its first ever Test match.