'I never thought I'd I'd see my face on a bus'

Interview by Elizabeth Flerlage

Published: 20 August 2007

Monty Panesar has been named the Wisden Cricketer of 2007. He is the first Sikh to play cricket for England and is the face of Walkers new Chilli and Lemon flavour crisps.

If I weren't talking to you right now I'd be ...

Relaxing somewhere with my friends and family.

A phrase I use far too often ...

"Tiga, tiga" which means "okay, okay" in Hindi. Or I use "How's that?" when I'm appealing a call.

I wish people would take more notice of...

Being able to play cricket

The most surprising thing that happened to me ...

I never imagined I'd see my face on a double-decker bus. It's shocking to see such a large picture of myself.

A common misconception of me is ...

People think that I can rap. I have done it, but I am not really good. I'm not Eminem.

I'm not a politician but if I were ...

I would have more national holidays and I would also extend the Christmas holidays.

I'm good at...

Jumping high and missing high fives with my team-mates. I can also make my friends and family laugh.

I'm bad at...

Cooking. I tried at university but I had to end up buying a card for meals because I was so bad.

You know me as a cricketer but in another life I'd have been...

A musician. I would have been a pianist, even though I don't play now.

http://news.independent.co.uk/people/profiles/article2878780.ece