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The Surfer

The evolution of Panesar

In the Daily Telegraph, Simon Hughes looks at Panesar's evolution as a spinner, after his exceptional bowling in Kolkata

The opening two days in Kolkata could not have gone much better for England. Their position was set up by an outstanding bowling display with Monty Panesar again to the fore. In the Daily Telegraph, Simon Hughes looks at Panesar's evolution as a spinner.

In the past, Panesar might have countered by bowling faster and straighter. As the ball was not turning that would have played into the batsman's hands. Here he was more imaginative, throwing the odd one up higher to invite the drive. Sehwag attempted one and got an inside edge to square-leg.

This time, Panesar did not dismiss Sachin Tendulkar - his scalp went to James Anderson after he had made a fighting 76 - and over the weekly Spin column for the Guardian, Andy Bull says that in the twilight of a career every mistake Tendulkar makes is more important.

The first thing that fails a batsman needn't be physical at all. It is more likely to be the faith his fans have in him. The clamour for Tendulkar to step down is, those on the ground in India say, as loud as it has ever been. Once-upon-a-time, of course, it would have been blasphemy to say such a thing, as Hayden suggested. But the marketing men no long beat their way to Tendulkar's door, which is as sure a sign as any of his current standing among the wider public. Canon have just cancelled their advertising contract with him. Coca-Cola, Adidas, and Aviva haven't aired any commercials featuring him since the summer, when he endured a dismal series against New Zealand. Impervious as he has always been to the enormous pressures he labours under, it seems unlikely that the furore surrounding him now will distract him any too much.

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