PANESAR TOES LINE IN SPIN DEBATE

But the confirmation from Lord's that Giles, one of the heroes of the Ashes triumph of last year, has ticked all the boxes in his comeback from injury has posed the question.

Panesar is the people's choice – but not necessarily that of England's ever-cautious coach Duncan Fletcher, the man who holds sway over team selection.

In Brisbane on November 22, when Fletcher and captain Andrew Flintoff decide their team to start the defence of the Ashes the next day, they have to decide between the spinning talent of 24-year-old Panesar and the all-round contribution of solid citizen Giles.

Yesterday at the curious location of a bandstand in a windswept park in south London, Panesar was asked to consider the dilemma that will face England's hierarchy in sub-tropical Brisbane.

"When I get there, in those conditions and with a different ball, I have to continue to show the form I did last summer. And I have a fair bit to do, you are not guaranteed a spot in the Test side," said Panesar, who leaves for Australia with the rest of the squad on Friday.

"This winter is the first time I will be with Ashley in a squad and it will be good to learn from him with his experience and how he prepares, I'm really looking

forward to it."

Panesar was the celebrity guest at yesterday's ECB announcement of their

latest sponsorship windfall, such is his new-found status in the English game.

There on the bandstand with him at Denmark Hill were the ECB chief executive David Collier and managing director of npower Kevin Miles to announce his company's continued involvement in backing Test cricket for another three years – a deal worth £10million.

Panesar was shivering under his npower sweatshirt, but that was more to do with the English autumn than the prospects of a close encounter with Australia and Glenn McGrath, who has already suggested he was "a bit soft" if he was seeking guidance from a sports psychologist ahead of the Ashes battle.

Panesar explained the motivational chats with psychologist Steve Bull had been a team affair rather than a one-on-one consultation, and that he has read McGrath's views with interest.

"That's just Ashes stuff you expect before the series, we just focus on what we have to do," said Panesar, who seemed rather flattered to be the subject of a McGrath rant.

"Eighteen months ago I was doing my dissertation [at Loughborough University] and he had probably never heard of me.

"So if you put things into context, it is a compliment because he is a great character."

For Panesar, the challenge ahead is the most exciting and potentially fulfilling of his sporting life, and judging by his guarded response to every question, one that neither McGrath nor Giles will derail.

Panesar has bowled in Australia before, with the England Academy with some success, and he added: "Australia is a very passionate nation about its cricket and I hear it's a sell-out for every match and it excites everyone to play in front of big crowds.

"I'm sure their batsmen will look to come after me and it will be tough for me out there, but it will be part of my development how I deal with it."

Another member of the England party the Australians will undoubtedly single out for ‘treatment' is Marcus Trescothick, the opener who will be making his comeback to touring after receiving treatment for depression.

Trescothick abandoned last winter's Test tour of India and also missed the recent ICC Champions Trophy back in the same country while his treatment continued.

But England vice-captain Andrew Strauss is in no doubt his opening partner will be up to the challenge in Australia.

"Marcus is the most professional guy in the England side and come that first day in Brisbane he will be very focused and he feels he has a point to prove," said Strauss.

"He didn't have the best of summers, but I don't think that was down to his problems off the pitch."