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Panesar rejects England rest cure

Monty Panesar is committed to a full programme of championship cricket in an attempt to bowl himself into form ahead of the three-Test series against New Zealand in May

David Hopps
David Hopps
21-Mar-2013
Monty Panesar will be straight into Sussex championship action after the New Zealand tour  •  Getty Images

Monty Panesar will be straight into Sussex championship action after the New Zealand tour  •  Getty Images

Monty Panesar is committed to a full programme of championship cricket in an attempt to bowl himself into form ahead of a two-Test series against New Zealand ijn May, which starts England's international summer.
Panesar's spin partnership with Graeme Swann was a prime reason for England's mastery over India on their home soil in the Test series before Christmas.
But he has found rewards harder to find in New Zealand and, with Swann recuperating from an elbow operation and uncertain whether he will be fit to face New Zealand, Panesar's well-being at the start of a packed England schedule is even more important than usual.
Panesar has persuaded England's management that, despite a heavy touring schedule, he has no need for the prolonged rest which has been drawn up for most other England players. He will be pitched straight into Sussex's championship season, against Yorkshire at Headingley on April 10.
Warwickshire, the defending county champions, will have to wait for the involvement of their England batsmen, Ian Bell and Jonathan Trott, until May under the player availability schedule drawn up by the England management.
Bell and Trott will be available two Warwickshire championship matches - against Sussex and Middlesex - ahead of England's three-Test series against New Zealand, which begins at Lord's on May 16.
Under a scrupulously balanced decision process, most England players are guaranteed to play two championship games ahead of the first Investec Test.
Durham will benefit from Graham Onions' inactive winter. Onions' 64 wickets at 14.98 were instrumental in securing Durham's Division One status, eventually achieved with ease under the inspirational captaincy of Paul Collingwood, and he will be running in again for the opening championship match of the season against Yorkshire in Chester-le-Street on April 10.
Somerset are another winner with Nick Compton's appetite for match practice meaning that he is scheduled to return against Surrey at The Oval on April 17.
England player availability:
James Anderson (Lancashire): Available for LV= County Championship games against Kent (24-27 April) and Glamorgan (1-4 May). Unavailable for Yorkshire Bank 40 game against Durham (6 May) and Derbyshire (12 May). Schedule to be reviewed after 4 May ahead of first Investec Test.
Jonny Bairstow (Yorkshire): Available for all cricket from the start of season.
Ian Bell (Warwickshire): Available for championship games against Sussex (1-4 May) and Middlesex (8-11 May). Available for YB40 game against Kent (6 May). Unavailable for YB40 game against Sussex (12 May).
Ravi Bopara (Essex): Available for all cricket.
Tim Bresnan (Yorkshire): Availability to be determined following recovery from an elbow operation.
Stuart Broad (Nottinghamshire): Available for championship games against Derbyshire (24-27 April) and Durham (29-2 May). Schedule to be reviewed after 2 May ahead of first Test.
Jos Buttler (Somerset): Available for all cricket.
Alastair Cook (Essex): Available for championship games against Hampshire (29 April -2 May) and Lancashire (7-10 May). Unavailable for YB40 fixtures against Hampshire (3 May), Durham (5 May) and Scotland (12 May).
Nick Compton (Somerset): Available for championship games against Surrey (17-20 April), Warwickshire (25-28 April) and Yorkshire (7-10 May). Available for YB40 fixture against Unicorns (5 May). Unavailable for YB40 fixture against Yorkshire (11 May).
Jade Dernbach (Surrey): Available for all cricket.
Steven Finn (Middlesex): Available for championship games against Derbyshire (17-20 April) and Surrey (2-5 May). Unavailable for game against Cambridge MCCU (24-26 April). Schedule to be reviewed after 5 May ahead of first Test.
Eoin Morgan (Middlesex): Participating in the IPL. Available for all cricket on return.
Graham Onions (Durham): Available for championship games against Somerset (10-13 April), Warwickshire (17-20 April), Yorkshire (24-27 April) and Nottinghamshire (29 April -2 May). Schedule to be reviewed after 2 May, ahead of first Test.
Monty Panesar (Sussex): Available for all cricket from 10 April.
Samit Patel (Nottinghamshire): Available for all cricket.
Kevin Pietersen (Surrey): Availability to be determined following recovery from knee injury.
Matt Prior (Sussex): Available for championship games against Surrey (24-27 April) and Warwickshire (1-4 May). Available for YB40 fixture against Worcestershire (5 May) and Northamptonshire (10 May). Unavailable for YB40 fixture against Warwickshire (12 May).
Joe Root (Yorkshire): Available for game against Lancashire (16-18 April) and championship games against Durham (24-27 April), Derbyshire (29 April-2 May) and Somerset (7-10 May). Available for YB40 games against Glamorgan (5 May) and Somerset (11 May).
Graeme Swann (Nottinghamshire): Availability subject to recovery from elbow operation.
James Tredwell (Kent): Available for all cricket.
Chris Tremlett (Surrey): Available from start of season.
Jonathan Trott (Warwickshire): Available for championship games against Sussex (1-4 May) and Middlesex (8-11 May). Available for YB40 game against Kent (6 May). Unavailable for YB40 game against Sussex (12 May).
Chris Woakes (Warwickshire): Available for championship games against Derbyshire (10-13 April), Durham (17-20 April) and Sussex (1-4 May). Schedule to be reviewed after 4 May ahead of first Test.

David Hopps is the UK editor of ESPNcricinfo