Knight fears for Panesar's Ashes place
Former England opening batsman Nick Knight has warned Northamptonshire spinner Monty Panesar that he faces a battle to win an Ashes Test place ahead of Yorkshire leg-spinner Adil Rashid.
England are expected to go into the first Test against Australia in Cardiff on July 8 with two spinners, as the wicket at the Swalec Stadium is expected to be a turning one.
Northampton-born Graeme Swann is a certainty to take the first place, and a few weeks ago Panesar would have been the only serious option to partner him.
But Rashid took his chance to shine after being a surprise inclusion in England's World Twenty20 team, and Knight now believes the Yorkshire youngster is a real threat to Panesar's Ashes place.
"I wasn't a big fan of Rashid's inclusion in the Twenty20 squad when Andrew Flintoff pulled out, but he was brilliant," said Knight.
"He was a huge success. It wasn't a fantastic tournament for England, but I thought Rashid's contribution at vital times when the pressure was on was excellent.
"I fully expect Graeme Swann to be the first spinner and for me it's going to be a bit of a shoot-out between Rashid and Panesar.
"Right now I would say it's a 50-50 call.
"But I just think that Rashid may have done himself no harm."
n Australia all-rounder Shane Watson will not be sent home after being diagnosed with a minor thigh injury.
Scans on Watson's left knee confirmed a 'low-grade strain', which has forced the 28-year-old to miss the opening four-day tour game against Sussex at Hove, which began yesterday. It is not yet known when Watson will be fully recovered from the injury, but with just two weeks to go before the opening Ashes Test in Cardiff on July 8 his availability for that game remains in some doubt.
Watson had missed Australia's training sessions on Monday and Tuesday after complaining of general stiffness. That prompted the Australian team officials to contemplate calling up a replacement for the injury-prone Queenslander, however, the results of today's scans would rule out such action in the short term at least.
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Saturday 04 February 2012
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