Former England spinner Monty Panesar has backed Jake Ball and James Vince to impress
Tuesday 17 May 2016 11:13, UK
Jake Ball and James Vince deserve to be called-up to England's Test side, according to former spinner Monty Panesar.
Panesar, 34, has backed the uncapped duo to impress after they were included in England's 12-man squad for the first Test against Sri Lanka on May 19.
Hampshire captain Vince, who made 119 against Yorkshire last month, has been selected following the retirement of James Taylor, who was forced to quit cricket after discovering a serious heart condition.
Meanwhile, Ball has been rewarded for a fine start to this year's County Championship season, in which he has taken 19 wickets in four matches for Nottinghamshire.
"Vince has obviously done really well over the winter and he's got a century against Yorkshire," said Panesar, who made 50 Test appearances for England over a seven-year period.
"So it kind of seems like players who do well against Yorkshire, the selectors definitely have a look at that, and I think he deserves his chance. Hopefully he'll take that opportunity.
"Jake Ball is someone who has benefited a lot from the strength and conditioning programmes - he seems a lot stronger and fitter.
"Obviously getting [Joe] Root out twice and playing well against the Yorkshire team gave him a really good chance to get into the 12-man squad.
"He's been formidable in Division One cricket. It's early season and he always seems to get the ball pitched up, always getting his best foot forward.
"He's always asking questions and I think that's what got him in the team because he's bowling in those dangerous areas that get batsman out.
"It will probably be between him and [Steven] Finn but I'm sure, with the South Africa series win in mind, they'll stick with Finn."
Vince and Ball could both make their Test debuts against Sri Lanka at Headingley next Thursday, in what is the first of three five-day matches scheduled for this summer's tour, and Panesar says there's no better feeling than making your Test debut for your country.
"It's unreal, something that you've dreamed of all your life - always wanting to play cricket all your life since you're a youngster," said Panesar, made his Test debut against India in Nagpur in 2006.
"I remember my call up was when Andrew [Strauss] named the team in India and I was absolutely excited about it.
"I'm sure both Jake and Vince are absolutely thrilled with this opportunity and hopefully they'll be excited and looking forward to next week."
Panesar's last appearance for England's Test side came against Australia in Melbourne in 2013.
However, the left-arm bowler still hasn't given up hope of representing his country and is working to get back to full fitness after being released by Essex at the end of last season.
"I had shoulder surgery in November so that took about three months to recover and I'm building up my cricket fitness playing some secondary cricket, minor counties cricket for Bedfordshire and also club cricket on a Saturday," he said.
"I'm trying to build up my fitness and hopefully at some stage I'll be able to play more and enjoy my cricket. I want to get back in the England team - I still feel like I've got plenty of years left in me to play."
