How A Defective Alarm Clock Cost Monty Panesar A Spot In The England Test Team

As a sportsperson, one has to maintain punctuality and the same cost Monty Panesar a spot in the England national team. Although Monty Panesar could not remain consistently within the English side, he did produce some performances which are hard to forget. In a podcast, the 38-year old has shed light on how a faulty alarm clock failed him to book a berth in the national team.

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Monty Panesar is well-known for playing an instrumental role in England’s Test series win in 2012 against India. Along with Graeme Swann, Panesar turned things around impressively as the tourists came back from 0-1 to win the four-match rubber by 2-1. The left-arm spinner took 17 wickets in three Tests with two five-wicket hauls. With the bat, he survived 35 deliveries for 7 runs being the final batsman in Cardiff during Ashes 2009 as England escaped with a draw.

Meanwhile, it was in 2014 that the left-arm spinner was in the frame of a recall to the Test team against Sri Lanka. Panesar cited the time-keeping issue that kept him away from his county side, Essex. Monty Panesar recalled that he slept tightly; however, by the time he woke up it was nine. After getting to the ground at 10, he was informed that he wasn’t playing due to being late.

“Time-keeping, when I missed a match against Essex for time-keeping issues,” he said. “I didn’t sleep very well that night, and then I went into a really deep sleep, and then the next thing [I knew] I woke up and it was half nine. I got ready, got to the ground at 10, next thing I know it was like, Monty you’re not playing this game because you’re late for the match,” the Bedfordshire-born stated in the Monty Panesar & The Specialist Fielders podcast.

“Thanks to my alarm not working he got in the Test team” : Monty Panesar

With Monty Panesar omitted for the preparation game, spin-bowling all-rounder Moeen Ali went on to play against Sri Lanka the week after that. The 38-year old lamented his alarm clock for not having the spot in the team and conceded he would have had he performed extraordinarily.

“It cost me my Test place the next week against Sri Lanka. Moeen Ali played, but if I bowled really well I probably would have got the nod. I missed my alarm clock, and thanks to my alarm not working he got in the Test team,” he added.

Monty Panesar’s last of 50 Tests came in the 2013-14 Ashes in Melbourne, which was the fourth Test of the leg. Since his debut, Moeen Ali booked his spot in the Test team, giving exquisite performances both with the bat and ball while spinners like Dom Bess, Jack Leach, and Mason Crane also got a look. As far as Panesar’s numbers go, he picked up 167 Test wickets at 34.71 and played his last first-class fixture in 2016 for Northamptonshire.

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