Monty Panesar: Essex drop England spinner over 'timekeeping'

England spinner Monty Panesar has been dropped by Essex for their County Championship game against Glamorgan.

The 32-year-old was left out for "breaching team rules for timekeeping", according to a club statement.

He was replaced by leg-spinner Tom Craddock, who was not in the original squad for the four-day fixture at Chelmsford starting on Sunday.

England's first Test of the summer, against Sri Lanka at Lord's, starts on 12 June.

Panesar has taken 167 wickets in 50 Tests, the most recent against Australia at Melbourne in the winter Ashes series, which England lost 5-0.

The slow left-armer joined Essex on loan from Sussex last summer after being fined by police for urinating on nightclub bouncers, and subsequently agreed a two-year contract at Chelmsford.

This season he has taken 19 Championship wickets in six games at an average of 23.63, including his best figures for Essex of 6-111 against Leicestershire.

The statement confirmed he would be eligible for selection for next Friday's T20 Blast game against Surrey next Friday.