Legendary English Test spinner Monty Panesar will call Campbelltown home for six months.
He will play for the Campbelltown Camden Ghosts in the 2016-17 Sydney grade cricket season, which starts next month.
Panesar will also perform a number of coaching roles as part of his agreement with the Ghosts.
“The Ghosts are pleased to announce that the highly regarded English international Monty Panesar has agreed to terms over the weekend,’’ the club said in a media statement released last night.
“Panesar will be an integral part of the Campbelltown Camden DCC First Grade line up and club for this coming season,’’ the club said in the statement.
“The Ghosts look forward to the Macarthur region welcoming one of the world’s leading spin bowlers into our community.’’
Panesar, who is hoping for a Test recall for England when they visit Australia for the 2017-18 Ashes series, will gain valuable experience bowling plenty of overs for the Ghosts on Australian surfaces.
The 34-year-old left arm spinner has played 50 Test matches for England taking 167 wickets along the way. Remarkably, Panesar has taken 709 first class wickets in a career that has spanned 15 years.
Ghosts coaching roles for Panesar
Apart from leading the Ghosts spin attack, Monty is keen to assist the coaching staff of the Ghosts club.
He will assume the roles of Ghosts spin coach, Poidevin-Gray Shield assistant coach and A.W Green Shield assistant coach.
The club says Panesar will also be available for private consultation through the Ghosts Cricket Academy.
“This is great news for the Ghosts,’’ the club said in the media statement.
“He certainly will be an asset.’’
♦ At the recently held club AGM, Matt Appleton was elected president of the Ghosts committee of management for 2016-17.
Others elected to the committee were vice president Mark Browne, treasurer David Thorpe, secretary Jason Ellsmore, SCA delegate Allan Connolly and women’s chairperson John Evans.
Elected to general positions on the committee were Karen Barnes, Morris Iemma, Lee Mallitt, Jeff Mumford, Mark Richardson and Luke Webb.
♦ The Ghosts will celebrate the coming season with a launch at Wests Leagues on Monday, September 19.
We’ll have to get out and catch Monty in action, Sammy