Panesar begins his warm-up routine in the nets at Colombo

"You would expect him to do well over here. Certainly he is our number one Test match spinner," said Moores.

"Monty has proved he is an outstanding Test match bowler, and has been over the last couple of years."

Panesar could play with Graeme Swann as one of two spinners, or be used as the sole specialist slow bowler.

Twelve months ago, he was overlooked in favour of Ashley Giles for the first two Ashes Tests, a decision condemned by many pundits and England fans.

But Moores is prepared to turn a blind eye to Panesar's imperfect batting and fielding.

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In his first meeting with journalists in Colombo after England landed on Friday, Moores said: "Monty has taken his wickets at 30 [runs] apiece, which is very good.

"He will be looking at this trip as a chance to keep that progression going.

"The one thing you can say about Monty is that he has grown a lot as a bowler in the last few Test matches."

Swann, a right-arm off-break bowler, played well in the 3-2 victory in the recent one-day series - when he was preferred to Panesar - and is a much better batsman and fielder.

But he has never played a Test, while Panesar has taken 73 in 20 matches for his country.

Moores said: "Nothing against Graeme, because he has done well in the one-day games, but he still has stuff to do.

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"He has a great opportunity because he showed in one-day cricket what an aggressive spinner he can be and at times we might play two."

Picking the seam bowlers will be far from straightforward, however.

Steve Harmison has been playing two first-class matches in South Africa in a bid to get match-fit, while the other options include Matthew Hoggard, who missed nearly all last summer's Tests with injury.

Ryan Sidebottom, James Anderson and Stuart Broad are the other three specialist bowlers available.

Moores said of Harmison: "If he comes through well and he's positive then it would make sense to bring him out here and see if he is ready to go into a Test match.

"But he knows the form: it is not just being fit to bowl but good enough to be in the frame to be picked.