Stop expecting Monty to be an all-rounder, Bedi advises England

New Delhi, Aug 16 (UNI) England should stop playing cricket if they expect Monty Panesar to be an all-rounder for them, says Bishan Singh Bedi, who also feels that the left-armer is no run-of-the-mill bowler and will perform exceptionally well if selected for the Ashes series against Australia.

''England does not need Monty for his batting......they have others to do that job for them. He is in the team for his bowling and has done well so far. If they think that he should bat for them as well then they should perhaps stop playing cricket,'' the former India captain told UNI.

''He is a number 11 and that is not the position which does the scoring,'' he added.

Recalling his interaction with Monty during England's tour of India earlier this year, Bedi said the left-armer came across as an eager learner of the game.

''I know him pretty well. He is an excellent student of the game and what I can tell you from my experience of working with him is that, Monty has a flawless beautiful action,'' Bedi said.

Bedi laughed when told that Monty, in an interview to an English newspaper, said that apart from England's 1966 soccer World Cup triumph, the only sporting event he would pay to watch is the former Indian spin wizard bowling.

''Its very nice of him to say that. Actually he is a good lad and I can say that he is no run-of-the-mill bowler,'' he said.

The former player is not very happy with the comparisons being made between him and the rising England star and refused to react to Ian Botham's comments that Monty was perhaps the best left-armer since the his days.

''I don't want to say anything on that. Whatever he said is his personal opinion and I don't want to react to that,'' he said trying to avoid any queries on the comparison.

Speaking of Monty's Ashes prospects, which are looking bright after England coach Duncan Fletcher described him as the best finger spinner in the world, Bedi said he would bowl very well if he makes the trip Down Under.

When asked about Ricky Ponting's warning that the Aussie crowds are likely to be at their hostile best when the spinner comes on to bowl, Bedi said Monty would be the last to get affected by ridicule from the crowd and the Australian captain's comments were just mind games being played before the big series.

''He will do really well in the Ashes. Whatever Ponting is saying is just an attempt to play to mind games with him. I don't think it will affect him. Nothing serious in that,'' he said.

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