Monty Panesar joins Great Witchingham cricket club

Monty Panesar, who made his Test debut in 2006, has not played a first-class match since July 2016

Former England spinner Monty Panesar has signed with a village club for their 2024 campaign.

East Anglian Premier League side Great Witchingham, in Norfolk, said it was delighted to announce the news.

Panesar, 41, played for England from 2006 to 2013 and was part of the team that won the 2009 Ashes series and took 167 Test wickets during his career.

The club said: "We all look forward to welcoming Monty to Walcis Park for what should be a cracking centenary year."

Panesar's last international series was against Australia in the 2013-14 Ashes, but he re-joined Northamptonshire in 2016, which proved to be his final season in county cricket.

Since his retirement, he has studied sports journalism at St Mary's University, London, and is now a freelance journalist and writer.

Great Witchingham Cricket Club said on X: "We are delighted to announce that former England spinner Monty Panesar has signed for Great Witchingham CC for the 2024 campaign.

"With over 200 first class games and 700 wickets to his name the former Northants, Essex and England spinner brings a wealth of experience to the club for their Norfolk cricket league season."

The club's development officer Jim Clarke said: "I know Monty personally and he's a really nice guy, he'll bring a great amount of team ethos to the club.

"Everyone remembers Monty Mania in the noughties. He was the best-known cricketer in the country for years.

"I think he'll raise our profile massively. The reaction on social media has been fantastic and hopefully people will come and support us in our centenary year."

CricX, the cricket exchange and recruitment agency, said: "He will be eager to re-live his success of old for his new club next summer."