Panesar was robotic, but Tendulkar was master class
London, Dec. 16 : England's Sikh left-arm spinner Monty Panesar was just too robotic and unwilling to try anything different, including going round the wicket to the left hander to explore a different angle, says former England fast bowler Simon Hughes.
As opposed to Panesar, debutant Graeme Swann was more versatile and more threatening.
Hughes goes on to say that Sachin Tendulkar was master class all the way.
"Once he was joined by the more flaky Yuvraj (Singh), he delivered a motivating pep talk and reined in his ambition. He donned a chest guard to better withstand Monty Panesar''s occasionally spitting deliveries. England were treated to a master class of nimble footwork and neat deflection," says Hughes.
"He wielded his chunky 2lb 12oz blade like a scalpel, cutting his innings to a precise pattern. He manipulated the field," adds Hughes.
That his innings of 103 contained 45 singles, and 32 runs in boundaries, reflected the approach with which he zeroed in on the England target.
Fortified by Tendulkar''s calm accumulation, Yuvraj gave the innings impetus with some lusty blows. He closed his ears to Andrew Flintoff''s provocation and his savage pull for six off Panesar got the target down to 94. Then it was 70, then 50, and the ecstatic crowd bellowed them home from there. (ANI)