The New Nation - Internet Edition

AFP, London

England spinner Monty Panesar is convinced his miserable tour of Sri Lanka can help him become a world-class bowler.

Panesar, 25, took only eight wickets as England lost their recent three-Test series in Sri Lanka 1-0.

The Northamptonshire star's lacklustre displays were interpreted as a sign that he is stagnating after an impressive start to his international career.

"There has been a lot of focus on my bowling in this series but let me tell you straight away that I am looking at the whole experience in a very positive way as I head home to reflect and rest before we go to New Zealand at the end of January," Panesar told the Daily Mail.

"I want to experience tough conditions and I want to bowl a lot of overs at high-class players of spin in their own country, to test myself against them and see where I am at in my career. That is what has happened to me here.

"I may not have taken as many wickets as I would have liked but I see this tour as a crucial part of my learning curve. I needed the examination of my progress that this tour has brought.