Panesar's chance to win over doubters

Monty Panesar speaks to the press during a training session ahead of the Lilac Hill match © Getty Images

Two days on from England's debacle at Adelaide, and the shockwaves show no sign of abating. Even the squad's timely flight 1300 miles to the west to Perth, the most isolated city in the world, couldn't provide any respite, as they were greeted by backpage headlines in the West Australian lampooning "Duncan the Dunce", and "England's out-of-tune missile launcher", Steve Harmison. It's remarkable really. Ricky Ponting and Shane Warne are basking in the glory of their greatest Test win, and yet the rest of their country seems to be mourning the premature end to a hugely-hyped contest.

Tomorrow's Lilac Hill festival match, therefore, comes an ironically inopportune moment. Since 1990-91, this fixture in the Swan Valley has been the official curtain-raiser to Australia's international summer, but tomorrow it becomes something else entirely - an inconvenient interruption in a week when the squad would like nothing better than to sink into a uranium mine and hide. And that's exactly what they seem to have done. None of the Adelaide XI will be featuring. Instead Alec Stewart emerges from retirement to captain a side featuring two fellow veterans in Robin Smith and Adam Hollioake, with the numbers being made up by three Academy members and all five of the Ashes reserves.

The spotlight, therefore, turns instantly to one man, and one man only. Monty Panesar, the BBC Cause Célèbre of the Year, has three days between now and the start of the third Test at the WACA next Thursday to win over his remaining doubters on the England selection committee, and cement the Test place that most of the country believe is his by right. Whether it takes petitions, protests or questions in the House, England need him to take the field on December 14, if only to rid themselves of the defensive mindset that contributed to that defeat at Adelaide.

"I guess it's flattering that people back home are saying nice things," said Panesar during the Academy's practice session at the South Perth Oval, "but selection isn't in my control. I've got to focus on what I need to do, and prepare myself. If I get a chance I won't put pressure on myself or do things differently. I'm just going to bowl the way I've been bowling since I came into international cricket."

Panesar happened to be sat in front of a giant image of himself in the midst of a wicket celebration - an indication perhaps of England's new mindset. But in towing the party line, he accidentally revealed the very real fear that has clouded their tactics all tour. "The exact reason [for my omission] is my batting. If we lose a quick couple of wickets in the first session, we need a good balance in the batting line-up because maybe we could be skittled for 150."

Panesar is not the only man with a point to prove in this match. Sajid Mahmood looked good in the nets at Adelaide and will be pushing for an opportunity ahead of James Anderson at Perth, while Chris Read - virtually anonymous since he was unceremoniously dumped from the team after the Champions Trophy - would love nothing better than a nice big score to dangle in front of Geraint Jones, whose Test average has slipped below 25 after 63 runs in four innings.

One significant figure won't be featuring at Lilac Hill, however. Michael Vaughan's rehabiliation continued yesterday with a 40-minute innings for the Academy against Western Australia 2nd XI. He made just 9 from 21 balls, but had a brief middle practice today at South Perth. An ECB spokesman did confirm, however, that he would come into the reckoning for the two-day match at the WACA on Saturday.

Vaughan's shadowy presence on this tour has not been welcomed by all. Angus Fraser, writing in The Independent, believed it was undermining Andrew Flintoff's attempts to stamp his authority on the squad. " Acting as a stand-in captain is tough at the best of times," said Fraser, "but when the boss is constantly sticking his nose in it is near impossible."

Nevertheless, he is here and consequently the "will he, won't he" questions will not die down until the series has been won and lost, regardless of Fletcher's latest hint that the timeframe was too short for an Ashes comeback. "There's not much cricket between now and the third, fourth and fifth Tests," Fletcher told the BBC. "Until he's confident in his knee, we won't consider Michael Vaughan."

But, even if Panesar does get his go at the WACA, and even if Vaughan's knee does come through the trials of the coming fortnight, the damage to the squad's self-belief and unity has already been done. The least they can do is unwind a bit, and get stuck into the corporate hospitality at Lilac Hill tomorrow.

England XI Alec Stewart (capt), Chris Read, Ed Joyce, Sajid Mahmood, Liam Plunkett, Monty Panesar, Adam Hollioake, Robin Smith, Jon Lewis, Owais Shah, James Dalrymple (subject to fitness)

CA Chairman's XI Justin Langer (capt), Luke Ronchi (wk), Chris Rogers, Luke Pomersbach, Marcus North, Adam Voges, Brett Dorey, Sean Ervine, Peter Worthington, Ryan Campbell, Chris Matthews, Jo Angel.