Warne: Panesar hasn't improved and shouldn't play
Aussie great Shane Warne says England are wrong to line up Monty Panesar to play in the first Test against Australia.
Warne says Adil Rashid should be Graeme Swann's partner in Cardiff on July 8.
Northampton spinner Panesar has been chosen for England in their warm-up match against Warwickshire next week.
But Warne said: "I believe Rashid is ready to play Test cricket and he should play in the first Test with Swann.
"If I was England, I'd be preparing a flat wicket that turns and play two spinners. England have not rushed Rashid - they have let him learn his craft.
"He performed pretty well in the opportunities he had in the World Twenty20, which is really a spinner's game.
"Everyone says England have the edge in the spin department but I'm not sure that's true.
"Swann and Nathan Hauritz are similar types of bowlers - but the big difference is England could play two spinners in the first Test while there is talk of Australia not even playing one.
"That's pretty weird for me. I didn't think we'd see the day England could go in against Australia with two spinners while Australia maybe have none."
Warne believes Panesar is no better than when he made his Test debut three years ago.
He added: "I think Monty is a wonderful bowler - exciting and fantastic for cricket. But he's stayed the same, hasn't improved.
"That really disappoints me. The sign of a good player in Test cricket is one who improves. You say Monty has played 30-odd Tests. But I think he is one of those guys who has played one Test 30 times. And there is a big difference."
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Friday 10 February 2012
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