Monty Panesar named in Northamptonshire squad to face Kent
Monday 16 May 2016 10:06, UK
Former England spinner Monty Panesar could make a long-awaited return to county cricket after being named in Northamptonshire's 13-man squad to face Kent.
Panesar, 34, has not featured at county level since being released by Essex at the end of last season.
The left-arm spinner, who has recently recovered from shoulder surgery, has been playing minor counties cricket with Bedfordshire in an effort to regain full fitness.
And now he could be in line to make a return to County Championship Division Two action when Northamptonshire host Kent at the County Ground on Sunday.
Panesar, who made 50 Test appearances for England over a seven-year period between 2006 and 2013, still hasn't given up hopes of representing his country at the top level again.
"I'm trying to build up my fitness and hopefully at some stage I'll be able to play more and enjoy my cricket," he said earlier this week.
"I want to get back in the England team - I still feel like I've got plenty of years left in me to play."
Meanwhile, Northants have extended the loan of Nottinghamshire batsman Jake Libby for a further two weeks.
Libby has impressed at the start of this season and recently made his second first-class century against Derbyshire.
"It's been a great opportunity for me to play some first-team cricket," said the 23 year-old batsman, in a statement released on Northamptonshire's website.
"Thankfully I've managed to score a few runs too. I've felt I've done okay in some tough conditions and it was good to get the hundred. I hope I can continue to score some runs over the next two weeks."
