 Bell and Panesar have been among England's star performers |
John Buchanan says Andrew Flintoff's absence has boosted England's teamwork. The Australia coach is impressed with how the team have won the Test series against Pakistan without their star.
"What we've seen is a gradual build-up in the way they're playing, teamwork, and responsibility being shared," he told The Sydney Morning Herald.
All-rounder Flintoff was outstanding in last year's Ashes but is not expected to play again until the return series this winter after ankle surgery.
Buchanan added: "It hasn't been a case of turning to Flintoff all the time to take a wicket or turning to Steve Harmison or Kevin Pietersen to deliver something.
"They've actually had the ability to share it around - the likes of Alastair Cook, Ian Bell, Monty Panesar and now Chris Read's come in.
"I think they would be very, very pleased with the outcomes of their summer, knowing that they've still got a couple of players, particularly Flintoff, who are convalescing and getting themselves ready for the Ashes."
 | It is three months until the Ashes start so it is early, very early for a training camp |
Young batsmen Bell and Cook have scored five centuries between them against Pakistan, while left-arm spinner Panesar has taken 16 wickets.
And wicket-keeper Read, recalled after a two-year absence, struck a crucial 50 in the second innings as England won the third Test at Headingley by 167 runs to take a 2-0 lead with one match to play.
The first of five Tests against Australia begins in Brisbane on 23 November and Buchanan is holding a "commando-style" training camp for his squad in Queensland this month.
He hopes it will help them shut out the kind of distractions that put them off their game in England last year.
"The underlying philosophy is about taking all of us outside our comfort zone and then seeing how we respond to that, individually and collectively."
One of the older recruits for that is Shane Warne, who will miss some cricket for Hampshire as a result and has suggested he is not to keen to attend.
| We played one county game against him last year and I said that guy might be the next England spinner |
Warne said: "It is three months until the Ashes start so it is early, very early for a camp, but that is what John wants to do.
"I think it is one of John Buchanan's wonderful, mastermind things that keeps everyone stumped... and well, who knows?" Warne quipped.
Skipper Ricky Ponting, meanwhile, insists Panesar's emergence has not surprised him.
England coach Duncan Fletcher hailed the 24-year-old as the world's best finger spinner and Ponting says he was impressed by what he saw of him in a tour game in 2005.
"We played one county game against him last year and I said I thought that guy might be the next England spinner and as it turned out I was spot on," he said.
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