Cricket: Panesar Ready to Shine in Perth

Monty Panesar has revealed his disappointment at being left out of the first two Ashes Tests, but hopes he can force his way back into contention with strong performances over the next week.

Panesar's exclusion from the England line-up caused a storm of protest which has only been heightened by England's meek bowling in Brisbane and last-day collapse in Adelaide. Duncan Fletcher has so far staunchly defended his team selections, but may yet succumb to the weight of public opinion if Panesar can impress in tomorrow's one-day match against a Chairman's XI at Lilac Hill and the weekend match against Western Australia.

"We've got the warm-up games coming up so there's a chance for me to put my name in the hat," confirmed Panesar, who claimed 32 wickets in his first 10 Tests. "If I bowl well then hopefully the captain and the coach will take notice so I guess it's up to me to try and bowl well and give myself a good chance."

Fletcher omitted Panesar in favour of the returning Ashley Giles so as to lengthen the batting order, but Giles suffered a miserable Test in Adelaide - dropping Ricky Ponting, who went on to score 142, on 35, before getting out for a duck in the second innings and struggling to extract any turn on a final-day wicket.

"I was told it was important we bat down to No 8, it's important the balance of the whole team is right," said Panesar. "I can understand the importance of it, but I am disappointed I didn't get a chance. All you can do is focus on the next Test match ahead. I would like to be in the 11 but I can understand the balance of the team is important. If we lose a quick couple of wickets in the first session then we need a strong batting line-up to prevent us getting skittled for a low total. I can understand the logic behind it but I want to play in the 11."

Panesar has been named in a strong-looking England Invitation XI to face the Chairman's XI, which as expected does not include recovering England captain Michael Vaughan. The Yorkshire batsman had been lined up to play in tomorrow's encounter but is instead expected to play in the two-day match against Western Australia instead.

Former England captain Alec Stewart will captain a line-up which includes other ex-England internationals Adam Hollioake and Robin Smith and the other four players who did not feature in the opening two Tests. They will face a Chairman's XI side including current Australian opener Justin Langer and ex-Zimbabwe Test player Sean Ervine in the traditional tour match.

England Invitation XI: A Stewart (capt), C Read (wkt), E Joyce, S Mahmood, L Plunkett, M Panesar, A Hollioake, R Smith, J Lewis, O Shah, J Dalrymple.