The long and winding road......stops in Brisbane!!

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Since Derek Underwood, England have yearned for a world class spin bowler who can run through batting line ups. Many have come and gone, Tufnell was probably the best of the lot but was never a consistent quality performer. 25,30 years England took to find one. Monty Panesar who first came to promenence when he was named as a Sun Millennium Kid in 2000. He got Tendulkar and Dravid out in India - and the ball to Mohammad Kaif which hit the off stump was as good as anything Bedi ever produced. He then continued his success against Sri Lanka and against Pakistan. Fletcher still wasnt happy - sad that his friend Giles was injured. Panesar then became the first English spinner in 50 years to take a 5 wicket haul at Headingley, notorious for being a seamers' haven and a graveyard for spinners. Come the Ashes, he was predictably dropped because Giles apparantly could bat and field. The sad thing is there was even a debate. Giles shouldnt even have gone to Australia - there are a few guys in county cricket better. England had gone down the long and winding road to find a world class spinner. When he came alone, they went back from where they came! What a tragedy for not just English cricket but cricket in general!