Panesar returns to Northants squad

Monty Panesar will take another step towards resuming his professional career on Wednesday when he embarks on Northamptonshire's pre-season tour to Barbados.

Although Panesar, who underwent shoulder surgery in December, is not yet fit to return to bowling, he will continue his rehab and take the opportunity to get to know the squad. As an experienced player, the club also hope his insight will prove valuable to a relatively young group of players.

Northants have not yet offered Panesar a contract. While hopes that his salary may be subsidised by the ECB have faltered - they contributed to his pay while he was with Essex - it is still possible that sponsorship could be agreed to help Northants pay for him. At present, the club - who announced significant losses for the second year in succession earlier this week - have only a modest sum (perhaps as little as £15,000) to offer which had been allocated towards signing a second overseas player in the NatWest Blast.