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MANCHESTER - It's 1-0 to Daniel Vettori, but England spinner Monty Panesar has form on the board to redress the balance with his admired rival in the second cricket test starting here tomorrow (NZT).
The England cult hero will gallop onto Old Trafford with fresh memories of his only two tests at the ground which have reaped 18 wickets.
Last year it was a test-best match haul of 10 for 187 against the West Indies, and a year earlier eight for 93 against Pakistan.
"I enjoy bowling here, the wicket has a bit of pace and bounce and my style of spin suits this kind of wicket, my record shows that," Panesar said today.
"The ball gathers pace off the wicket, it bounces well and it turns quite sharply."
Panesar took 11 wickets at 30.18 during England's 2-1 test series win in New Zealand, and while he caused some anxious moments for the touring batsmen in the first test at Lord's he emerged with match figures of two for 86 off 35 overs.
Vettori meanwhile took five for 69 in England's only innings to win man of the match and take bragging rights for the left-arm spinners' club to Manchester, ahead of another absorbing duel.
In the New Zealand captain's only test at Old Trafford, nine years ago, he took three for 83 off 51 overs for the match as the tourists dominated but couldn't force a result in a weather-affected match.
Mudhsuden Singh Panesar, 26, is three years and 54 tests shy of Vettori, who played his 81st test at Lord's.
Panesar has 94 wickets at 32.68 from his 27 matches, while Vettori has exactly 250 wickets at 34.38 as New Zealand's premier spinner of all time.
Panesar recalled how he'd sought out Vettori for advice in 2004 when he was an up-and-coming spinner, and this year was still learning from him at close range.
"He's played international cricket for over 10 years and being two left-arm spinners it's natural to compare.
"It's unfair to compare us, I've only started international cricket and he's played so many years. He knows his craft by sheer experience and I look up to him, the way he bowls and the way he operates.
"That is something in a few years time I can emulate what he does.
"Just generally how he bowls and the success he's had in all forms of the game. It's refreshing to see a left-arm spinner do well."
- NZPA
