The Ashes: Panesar Shines But England Xi Are Thumped

Monty Panesar claimed two wickets on his return to action in Australia today but could not prevent an ECB Chairman's XI suffering a crushing defeat in the traditional festival match at Lilac Hill.

Panesar, given a game alongside the other four members of England's Ashes squad not to feature in the opening two Tests, struck twice as the Australian Chairman's XI sealed a seven-wicket victory with 9.5 overs to spare. Chasing the ECB's competitive total of 259 for eight, the Australian Chairman's XI cruised to victory after wicketkeeper-batsman Luke Ronchi hammered 89 off only 49 deliveries.

Today's defeat was the first of three successive days cricket - England face Western Australia in a two-day match at the Waca over the weekend - where Panesar will have a chance to impress the selectors prior to next week's third Test. He made a positive start, striking with his second ball to bowl opener Chris Rogers as he attempted a reverse sweep, but then became a victim to Ronchi's strokeplay alongside the rest of the ECB's attack.

Seamer Jon Lewis was smashed for 35 in only four overs and Panesar was hit for 18 in one over before he ended Ronchi's onslaught, which included three sixes and 15 fours, when he marched down the wicket and was beaten in the flight to give wicketkeeper Chris Read a stumping. But that second success for Panesar, who finished with two for 63 from his 10 overs, was the last time the ECB celebrated for some time with Adam Voges celebrating his call-up to Australia's Test squad for the first time by hitting 71.

Panesar also contributed to Voges's dismissal, catching him at long off as he attempted to hit off-spinner Jamie Dalrymple down the ground, but by then the Australian line-up needed only 11 for victory.

Reserve wicketkeeper Read, who was hoping to make an impression with the bat during the ECB's innings and put pressure on Geraint Jones for his place in the Test team, missed his opportunity. Batting at three, Read fell for a five-ball duck. Ed Joyce, however, contributed a useful 36 before being unluckily run out for 36 backing up, while Academy player Ravi Bopara hit 53 off 56 balls to underline his growing reputation.

Bopara forged a 112-run stand with Alec Stewart, one of three retired players in the ECB line-up, which helped them recover from a shaky 69 for three. Stewart, captaining the side, looked like a current player more than one who had retired three years ago and hit 69 off as many balls, including two sixes and five fours. Former Surrey team-mate Adam Holliaoke also caught the eye, smashing a quickfire 38 including four sixes and a four to take the ECB XI to a competitive total.