EMBUREY: MONTY CAN BE RECORD BREAKER
Monty Panesar can be a record-breaking Test bowler, according to former England captain John Emburey.
After Michael Vaughan’s side lost the first Test against Sri Lanka in Kandy on Wednesday – a game in which Muttiah Muralitharan broke Australian Shane Warne’s record for Test wickets – the Middlesex director of cricket insisted that England should not be too doom-laden.
Off spinner Emburey, who took 147 wickets in his 64 Test matches, said of England’s 88-run defeat: “England fought it out well. With the Kandy pitch taking as much spin as it did, it was always going to be a difficult to try and save the game.
“I think they did remarkably well to get where they did.
“In the second Test in Columbo it is very important that England win the toss and bat first. If the wicket is flat, which it could very well be, it could be very hard work for the batsmen, and that will suit Murali, because he can turn the ball on any wicket.”
Emburey was quick to praise the controversial Sri Lankan spin king, who took nine wickets in all on his home pitch, on his achievement of surpassing Shane Warne’s record of 708 Test victims.
He continued: “Murali is absolutely fantastic – he has entertained cricket lovers around the world for the last 15 years.
“It is a magnificent performance by him and one that will not be surpassed. Murali is totally unorthodox in his style and I don’t think we will see his likes again.
“It is rubbish to suggest his action should be discredited. He has been cleared and gone through all sorts of testing in Perth, Australia. And he was found to be within the legal limits of 15 degrees which the ICC have said that they are allowing.
“He is just a one off. No one will be able to pass his record, whatever it ends up being.
“He could make 1,000 – there is no reason why not. He will probably have to play for another five years to achieve it. There won’t ever be anyone who gets anywhere near him.”
The 55-year-old believes that left-arm slow bowler Monty Panesar can become England’s leading wicket taker for a spinner.
As it stands Matthaw Hoggard – the highest English wicket taker currently still playing (246 wickets from 65 Tests) – is behind Derek Underwood (297 from 86), and pacemen Fred Truman (307 from 67), Bob willis (355 from 90) and Ian Botham (383 from 102) in the all time records.
Botham remains in 11th place in the world list, but Emburey is optimistic about the Northamptonshire spinner, Panesar, the 25-year-old who has 79 wickets from his first 21 Tests.
Emburey added: “I think Monty will end up being the highest wicket-taking spin bowler in English cricket.
“I’m sure that he will go passed Derek Underwood’s record of 297 wickets. Monty has at least another eight or nine years playing. Thirty wickets a year should get him well up there.
“He just has to stay fit. There are no spinners coming though the system so he has got a clear path for a number of years.”
Monty Panesar can be a record-breaking Test bowler, according to former England captain John Emburey.
After Michael Vaughan’s side lost the first Test against Sri Lanka in Kandy on Wednesday – a game in which Muttiah Muralitharan broke Australian Shane Warne’s record for Test wickets – the Middlesex director of cricket insisted that England should not be too doom-laden.
Off spinner Emburey, who took 147 wickets in his 64 Test matches, said of England’s 88-run defeat: “England fought it out well. With the Kandy pitch taking as much spin as it did, it was always going to be a difficult to try and save the game.
“I think they did remarkably well to get where they did.
“In the second Test in Columbo it is very important that England win the toss and bat first. If the wicket is flat, which it could very well be, it could be very hard work for the batsmen, and that will suit Murali, because he can turn the ball on any wicket.”
Emburey was quick to praise the controversial Sri Lankan spin king, who took nine wickets in all on his home pitch, on his achievement of surpassing Shane Warne’s record of 708 Test victims.
He continued: “Murali is absolutely fantastic – he has entertained cricket lovers around the world for the last 15 years.
“It is a magnificent performance by him and one that will not be surpassed. Murali is totally unorthodox in his style and I don’t think we will see his likes again.
“It is rubbish to suggest his action should be discredited. He has been cleared and gone through all sorts of testing in Perth, Australia. And he was found to be within the legal limits of 15 degrees which the ICC have said that they are allowing.
“He is just a one off. No one will be able to pass his record, whatever it ends up being.
“He could make 1,000 – there is no reason why not. He will probably have to play for another five years to achieve it. There won’t ever be anyone who gets anywhere near him.”
The 55-year-old believes that left-arm slow bowler Monty Panesar can become England’s leading wicket taker for a spinner.
As it stands Matthaw Hoggard – the highest English wicket taker currently still playing (246 wickets from 65 Tests) – is behind Derek Underwood (297 from 86), and pacemen Fred Truman (307 from 67), Bob willis (355 from 90) and Ian Botham (383 from 102) in the all time records.
Botham remains in 11th place in the world list, but Emburey is optimistic about the Northamptonshire spinner, Panesar, the 25-year-old who has 79 wickets from his first 21 Tests.
Emburey added: “I think Monty will end up being the highest wicket-taking spin bowler in English cricket.
“I’m sure that he will go passed Derek Underwood’s record of 297 wickets. Monty has at least another eight or nine years playing. Thirty wickets a year should get him well up there.
“He just has to stay fit. There are no spinners coming though the system so he has got a clear path for a number of years.”
Labels: cricket, John Emburey, Middlesex, Monty Panesar, Muttiah Muralitharan, Shane Warne, Shaun Udal
