For most cricket fans, the village green is reserved for the amateur sport. Twickenham Green has long bucked this trend, as it did on Saturday when ex-England spinner Monty Panesar turned up with his new team members at Twickenham CC.

Twickenham CC has a long history of attracting elite cricketers – to prove it there's a picture of WG Grace 'wielding the willow' up in its club house.[.b]

Panesar is the latest to have joined the club while he completes an MA in International Sports Journalism at St Mary's University in Twickenham.

He played (and lost) his first home match with the team on Twickenham Green on Saturday accompanied by his coursemates who provided the club's live commentary. You can read the full match review here.

We caught up with Monty and members of the club on the green…

So how is he finding it? "I'm loving it here!" he enthused.

"I was looking for a high-standard cricket club and my lecturer suggested Twickenham. I thought 'Yeah why not?'.

"It's a really good standard.

"I think what I have really enjoyed about it is the grounds - this league has the most picturesque grounds. We played in Teddington and I was like 'wow'."

Panesar is hoping to get more into coaching during the summer, particularly for spin bowling, and finding other ways of promoting the game.

He said: "When I was playing for England all those fans were cheering for me – It's because of those crowds that people know who I am.

"Now I want to give back to cricket.

"Cricket gives people a chance to connect."

"I find it really difficult to get into coaching, it's easier if I'm already part of a cricket club.

"I would love to work with any Middlesex spinners."

He said there's a "huge buzz" since lockdown has lifted and sport is starting to come back, and he has been enjoying getting out to train with Twickenham CC.

"It's such a great team and our captain Carlos has built real comradery. He's a real leader," he said.

Captain Carlos Nunes has played for Twickenham CC for 14 years, having moved to the UK from South Africa 15 years ago.

"It's so good to be back," he said after the team's pre-match warm up. "We have got a great squad.

"We have always had a solid squad but having Monty on board has made a big difference.

"The team has put hours and hours into the club which means it is ready for people like Monty and Scott (Newman - ex- Surrey and Middlesex CCC player).

"Scott has made a huge impact on the club too, he's a league legend.

"All of a sudden you are walking in the shadows of greatness on Twickenham Green!"

Panesar only has great things to say about the award-winning International Sports Journalism MA he's doing at St Mary's University.

"St Mary's was my first choice. The course has been brilliant," he said.

"It was my parents who pushed me to do it. They said if I was really serious about doing journalism I should go and study it.

"I am glad that they pushed me.

"Being a sportsman you are always learning so much, but studying I feel so stretched most days.

"What I have really enjoyed is talking about different sports issues.

"You see it from a different perspective - from a journalist's perspective."

For his final project he is creating a podcast series recorded at the 2020-21 Road Safety World Series called Monty Meets – watch this space for a link to the final cut!

Looking forward he wants to be a sports broadcaster and says he'd love to work on TV and talk about cricket, but is open to all channels of journalism and communication.

He said: "I'd like to do commentating, filming, writing – the full monty I'd say!"

He's currently working with Brentford FC as a journalist and content creator as part of his masters, where he contributes to the club's show The Warm Up.

He says he's loving the opportunity to really get involved and interview people.

How does it feel to be on the other side of the cameras now? "I've got to put the cricketer aside, I'm a sports journalist now," he said.

"It's about getting a different mindset, now it's about learning from people.

Eugene Berger, Twickenham CC Chairman who plays in the 2nd XI, said it is a privilege having Monty on the team.

He said: "What a great opportunity to have Monty playing on Twickenham Green and for Twickenham CC.

"It is a huge privilege to have someone who has played for England playing for Twickenham.

"I think the MCCL (Middlesex County Cricket League) needs to get a shout out for making sure we do have a full season of 18 games this year.

"It is also a great privilege to have Monty playing in the league.

"We think it is a massive coup to have someone like Monty playing for us - not only because he is a great player, but also for diversity and inclusion.

"We do have a very diverse side already, it's really important when it comes to our club."

During lockdown Twickenham had a lot of interest in the club – including an increase in interest from local women.

Berger said: "This is the second weekend of the league we have had a six 11s – historically we've only put out five sides."

He said he thinks the club's growing popularity is due to a mix of luck, lockdown and Monty!

He said Panesar is a great asset and is getting involved in club life – "He doesn't think anything is too big or too small."

And finally, England has an exciting summer schedule of them, how does Panesar feel about the team's chances?

He said he is most excited about watching them play New Zealand.

"New Zealand are number one in the world, it will be a good test match.

"Jimmy Anderson is bowling again – it will be great to see.

"I'm looking forward to it!"

So does he miss being part of the England team? "It will be nice to get involved in the summer commentating," he said.

And of The Hundred, he said: "I think it's amazing.

"I think it's going to revolutionise cricket.

"Everybody wants to see innovation – every few years we reinvent the sport.

"I hope this time the ECB (the England and Wales Cricket Board) holds the rights to The Hundred. I hope they hold The Hundred brand so if anyone else wants to play in another country they have to buy the rights off ECB."

About Twickenham CC

TCC played its first competitive game against Thames Ditton in 1833.

It now runs six senior sides (five playing in the Middlesex County Cricket League, MCCL, the other playing friendly cricket), a women's side (playing in the Surrey Women's Cricket League) and multiple junior sides for both boys and girls.

The 1st XI competes at the top of Middlesex's cricketing pyramid. The club graduated from (the now defunct) Middlesex Championship to the MCCL in 2007 and made its debut in the top flight in 2011.

Carlos Nunes has led the side for over a decade and the club says he's been a driving force both getting the most out f his players on the field but also in shaping its identity.

Find out more here.