Montyp713    Blessed to be surrounded by beautiful ppl in a beautiful place @SussexCCC #thankyoulord

I'll get back on topic...

I can't remember the amount of times I've walked past the nets this year and seen Hoppo smashing the ball at Monty (Jonty?) with him diving around like a lunatic, grafting his nuts off working on his fielding to be that little bit better than he can possibly be...

The other day's catch is a great moment for everyone to enjoy, but for Monty more than anyone, that catch wasn't a fluke - that was the result of hours, hours and hours of graft and for anyone that wants to knock him... Well, I'd like you to show me someone that puts it in like him to improve all sides of his game. Any young cricketer will do themselves a massive favour by learning from that.

Well done Jonty Panesar...

That is  a remarkably good post for that time of day Big D and I agree with every word of it.

I'll get back on topic...

I can't remember the amount of times I've walked past the nets this year and seen Hoppo smashing the ball at Monty

There's two more tasks for Hoppo now. Firstly some sprint training to get Monty quicker over the first three yards when fielding.
Secondly, some work on the weights inside so when Monty's batting and goes forward he turns his forward pushes from dot balls into fours.
By the end of next season we will have turned him into Monty'Garry Sobers'Panesar for sure!

I can't remember the amount of times I've walked past the nets this year and seen Hoppo smashing the ball at Monty (Jonty?) with him diving around like a lunatic, grafting his nuts off working on his fielding to be that little bit better than he can possibly be...

The other day's catch is a great moment for everyone to enjoy, but for Monty more than anyone, that catch wasn't a fluke - that was the result of hours, hours and hours of graft and for anyone that wants to knock him... Well, I'd like you to show me someone that puts it in like him to improve all sides of his game. Any young cricketer will do themselves a massive favour by learning from that.

Well done Jonty Panesar...

"Derbyshire, Northamptonshire, Gloucestershire and Worcestershire – to name four of six or seven – exist for no obviously justifiable reason."

Id bet they all have produced more England players than Hampshire over the last 50 years.

Sorry if this is off topic but its an itch I need to scratch. Of the 16 Firtsclass teams formed before 1914, Hamsphire has employed the lowest number of test players. Even if you count bought ins like that lovely bloke, KP, and Robin Smith, its a meagre 22. Hah!

So stuff that in your pipe etc.. Nicho.

back to the subject........Telegraph.......By Nick Hoult 
Nick's Twitter

Panesar taking a brilliant catch will instantly spark a string of patronising comments for a player whose tag as a hopeless fielder and batsman will live with him for the rest of his career.
It is unfair. He has worked hard on both aspects of his game over the past year and while he will never be a natural athlete in the field his big hands should make him a reliable catcher.
So it proved on Wednesday when Australia A opener Ed Cowan pulled a short and wide delivery from Tim Bresnan to Panesar’s right. Stationed at midwicket, Panesar dived and took the catch in his right-hand, the weaker side for the left-arm spinner. “I’m not sure Monty Panesar can believe it. What a fantastic catch,” said Michael Slater, the former Australia batsman commentating on the game for Channel 9.

Monty's on the up again!

I'm really chuffed for him and the Sussex finishing school has done wonders for him. Luke gave a nice insight into Monty at the members lunch when if was asked what he thought about his fielding. He said that it could be good but his concentration lets him down. Apparently when he stands on the boundary he obsesses fanatically about his bowling and how the ball is coming out and forgets he's actually fielding until the ball arrives to rudely interrupt his ruminations!