Monty Panesar, born Mudhsuden Singh Panesar on 25 April 1982 in Luton, United Kingdom, is an English cricketer of Indian descent. Standing 6 feet 1 inch tall, he is best known for his role as a left-arm orthodox spinner. Panesar grew up in a Sikh household and became the first Sikh to represent England in international cricket. He maintains a clear boundary between his personal and professional life. Following his divorce from his wife Gursharan, he has kept his private life largely out of the public eye.
Panesar began his cricketing journey with Northamptonshire, where he played while completing a degree in Computer Science at Loughborough University. In his debut season, he took an impressive 46 wickets at an average of 21.54. He had an especially successful 2005 County Championship season, claiming 51 wickets at an average of 22.47. In 2011, he went on to take 69 wickets across all formats. More recently, he has been associated with Sussex and has also appeared for Northamptonshire during his recovery from injury.
Panesar made his Test debut for England in January 2006 during a tour of India in Nagpur, where he claimed three wickets in his first match. His left-arm spin quickly attracted attention, and by 2007, he was named one of Wisden’s Cricketers of the Year. That same year, he earned the Man of the Series award during England's 2007 tour of the West Indies, taking 23 wickets at an average of 18.9.
Regarded as one of England's finest spinners, Panesar's bowling has often been the decisive factor in several of England's Test victories. According to Cricinfo, his bowling remains his strongest skill, far surpassing his batting and fielding. His batting, often criticized, typically sees low scores, and his fielding has also drawn scrutiny throughout his career. Despite these limitations, his effectiveness as a bowler earned him a key role in England's squad.
During the 2012 series against India, Panesar played a pivotal role alongside Graeme Swann in leading England to a rare series victory on Indian soil. He claimed 17 wickets at an average of 26.82 over the course of the series, reinforcing his status as a reliable spinner in challenging conditions.
| Birth Date: | 25 Apr, 1982 |
| Age: | 38 yrs |
| Occupations: | Association football player Cricketer |
| Citizenship: | Australia |
| Birth Place: | Luton |
| Education: | Loughborough University |
| Gender: | Male |
| Description: | Cricketer |
