Former England tweaker Monty Panesar has added his spin to the First Test Ashes autopsy, challenging Ben Stokes’ England side to play with greater discipline and respect if they’re to have any hope of levelling the series in Brisbane.
Appearing on Sports Breakfast radio in Perth, the 50-Test veteran also questioned the mental toughness of the highly-touted but largely underachieving current English squad.
“Discipline is required, respect for the game is required,” Panesar said.
“I think they lacked mental toughness and had an inability to adapt, always giving away strong positions, they’ve done it before, they’re doing it now, I really think it’s more of a psychological problem.”
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“When England are in a strong position they just keep going harder, when all they needed to do (in Perth), even for half an hour or forty minutes, was play a little more attritional style of cricket,” Panesar continued.
“The Aussie bowlers’ confidence would have started dropping and the batters are thinking ‘how many runs are we going to have to chase?’ Suddenly it’s a different ball game with England going to Brisbane probably 1-nil up.”
‘What do you know about winning an Ashes series in Australia?’
Asked if his comments might see him labelled a ‘has-been’ by England captain Ben Stokes, Panesar was non-plussed, joking he was already in the sights of opposing captain Steve Smith.
“I was trying to find the capital of Australia, which is Auckland, during the first Test—but my general knowledge is so bad of course, Steve Smith outlined that for me,” he laughed.
“Now I could be copping it from Ben Stokes, the England captain—‘Monty you’re a has-been, what do you know about winning an Ashes series in Australia?’”
“Well actually (Ben), I do know a little bit because we did win the last time back in 2010-11,” he said.
Panesar was indeed a member of England’s Ashes-winning squad, but didn’t play a Test.