'I Feel More Like A Baby'

''I asked Sachin to sign that ball, and it's so precious that I keep it in mybedroom. That's one of my most treasured moments, and always will be,'' Montysaid.

The ball was signed by Sachin, with the inscription, ''Once in a blue moon!''

The 25-year-old, who claimed his first 10-wicket haul during the third Testvictory over the West Indies recently, concedes "the ultimatechallenge" for a spin bowler is to bowl to the Indians, who he regards asthe best players of spin in the world.

Inspite of being ranked sixth in the world, the 'Sikh of Tweak' thinks hestill has a long way to go before he can be considered one of the best bowlers.

"They (Indians) are the best players of spin bowling in the world and wehave a tough series ahead. It was hard in India, where the ball turns a lot.However, it will be even tougher here, where it doesn't turn so much.

"I see it as the ultimate challenge for a spinner, breaking through theIndia batting in English conditions," he adds.

"I am told I am among the top 10 bowlers in Test cricket, but I stillhave a lot to learn," a humble Panesar said.

"I just feel lucky to be where I am and a lot of people have helped mealong the way. But, to be honest, I feel more like a baby than a top 10 bowler,with so much still to learn," he said.

The Northamptonshire player, who was back in his hometown of Luton for anNpower promotion admitted, "Yes, it would have been nice to play in thesame side as my hero, Sachin Tendulkar, but I always wanted to play forEngland."

About his maiden wicket -- that of Tendulkar -- in Test cricket, Panesar said,"It was my childhood dream to play for England. When I played in Nagpur andcaptured the wicket of Tendulkar I couldn't believe it.

"But I don't know whether I will be in awe of them as much as I was whenI made my England debut last year; in Nagpur it was a strange feeling to bebowling at these guys I had followed on TV from a young age.

"To get Sachin as my first Test wicket let's say, I was just lucky theball hit his pad before his bat, but it was a great feeling to get yourchildhood hero out, start jumping around and running off towards third man in astate of excitement," he recalled.

Even as he is yet to be convinced he belongs on the same stage as India'svaunted top six and his spin counterpart Anil Kumble, Monty, who has 65 wicketsto his name, says, ''It's going to be exciting, and at the same timefrightening, to play against India again because they are the world's bestplayers of spin -- and I still feel like a baby in terms of other spinners outthere.

''I can only learn about the art of spin from someone like Anil Kumble, whohas taken more than 550 Test wickets, and I'll probably gain a lot just byplaying against him.''

PTI