Captain Alastair Cook has insisted that Monty Panesar could yet have an England future despite his recent off-field troubles.

The slow-left-armer, who has taken 164 wickets in 48 Test matches, was arrested by police earlier this month after urinating on nightclub bouncers in Brighton.

Consequently, he was omitted from the 14-man squad for England's Ashes finale against Australia at The Oval, which begins on Wednesday, with Lancashire's Simon Kerrigan the second spin option selected.

While Cook has admitted his disappointment in Panesar's actions, he has stressed that the door is still open for the 31-year-old to make an England return, if his domestic performances warrant a recall.

"He's done wrong and has let the England shirt down a bit. The door is certainly not shut but he knows what he has to do to get back," Cook said.

"We all know the class he has as a bowler. We have seen what he can do time and time again so he has to go back to the basics and does what he does best, taking wickets. If he does that, all the better for me.

"The bottom line is we need Monty bowling again the way we know he can bowl. The way back for him is wickets. We know the record he has in international cricket and we know his pedigree. We need to see him doing it again and hopefully he will be doing that at Essex."

Panesar is contracted to Sussex, but has moved on loan to Essex for the remainder of the season, and recorded figures of 1-72 on the first day of his County Championship debut for the Chelmsford outfit.