ENGLAND hope Mushtaq Ahmed can revitalise Monty Panesar’s international career after beginning his role as spin-bowling coach.

Former Pakistan leg-spinner Mushtaq was a controversial appointment given his naming in the Qayyum commission into match-fixing nine years ago.

Although he was not found guilty, in summarising, Justice Qayyum recommended he be ’censured, kept under close watch and not be given any office of responsibility in the team or on the board’.

And in a letter upon his appointment in October, the International Cricket Council requested that the ECB ensured he abided by the ICC’s code of conduct and attended an anti-corruption unit refresher programme as well as reaffirming their right to view his telephone bills on request.

Mushtaq, who retired from playing last summer, has remained a popular figure on the county circuit and former coach Peter Moores was involved in recruiting him as a spin mentor on a 100-day-ayear deal.

His first day in England training kit yesterday was preceded by a defence of his reputation and that of Panesar’s as a top-class spinner.

‘‘He is a match-winner,’’ Mushtaq said of left-armer Panesar, after England’s opening net session at Warner Park. ‘‘People like Inzamamul- Haq and Mohammad Yousuf hardly praise spinners because they’re too good against them.

‘‘But after Pakistan played against England in England, they told me he was the most difficult bowler to face; the Indians said that same thing.

‘‘Spinners sometimes can have bad days, so as a spinner if you play six games and win two, that is a good ratio.

‘‘Monty has that potential to win games single-handedly.’’ The last time he did so, however, was against New Zealand at Old Trafford last May and boosting belief will be part of Mushtaq’s remit.

Panesar, 26, has suffered a dip in form in recent months, particularly during the tour of India before Christmas when he was out-performed by offspinner Graeme Swann.

He only took six wickets in the two Tests despite the helpful conditions and failed to make a single breakthrough in India’s successful fourth-innings chase of 387 in Chennai.

‘‘I believe these ten days before the Test series are important because before big games as a spinner you need the motivation and goals – what kind of achievements you are targeting in that series.

‘‘Dips happened in my career also. Sometimes you go in that shell where you think ’hang on, why am I not getting wickets’.

‘‘That is when you need that good surrounding, and I believe I can play that positive role with him.

‘‘You have to discuss the art of spin in the nets, but you also have to develop the person in the nets with passion.”

Of the Qayyum report, he added: ‘‘I hope it does go away.

There wasn’t any evidence. I have nothing to say on these things. Wherever you go in the world, you need evidence, so when you don’t have evidence, you can’t assume things. I am very satisfied.”