Panesar pick-me-up

Two one-day quarter-final defeats in three days all but ended Northamptonshire's summer but the performances of Monty Panesar in July suggested the future may be a little brighter. Since he took eight wickets on his Championship debut in 2001 Panesar's left-arm spin had largely dropped from view, with three years at university in Loughborough restricting his work with the county.

But later-season pitches have provided turn and a turning point. Sixteen wickets in two matches, including nine as Northants beat Worcestershire in their first Championship success of the season, have reminded everyone about a player who is still only 23.

Northants are now looking to make up for lost time. "Now he has his education he can concentrate on catching up with his cricket," says their academy director David Capel. "He could have produced these performances a couple of years ago. Now he feels ready to give first-class cricket a real go." Panesar is scheduled to winter in India with another Northants spinner, Bishan Bedi.

Meanwhile the director of cricket Kepler Wessels used the annual supporters' club forum to plead for extra cash. Wessels says his budget was cut this year to £741,000, the lowest of the 18 counties. The playing staff - 13 senior professionals - is also the circuit's smallest. However, Capel still sees room for promising young players: "We can offer an opportunity to good youngsters from our academy, or those who are struggling to get a game at other counties. Bilal Shafayat has been given a chance and has been a real success."

Moment of the month A packed house for the Twenty20 Cup quarter-final against Somerset, stirring memories of Lamb, Larkins, Bailey and Capel.