Australia fast bowler McGrath loves to indulge in verbal sparring with the opposition before the start of a major Test series -- before the 2005 Ashes he said he expected his team to win 5-0 only to see them lose 2-1.

And the fast bowling great turned his attention to rising spin star Panesar during a recent radio interview.

"I heard about that but I guess that's pre-Ashes (banter). You just accept that as part of cricket," the soft-spoken Panesar said.

England have employed sports psychologist Steve Bull as part of their backroom staff and Panesar insisted he'd not had any one-on-one sessions.

"We had a brief chat about Australia, but it was a team thing, not on an individual basis. That's how it goes with cricket -- you just accept it.

After the South Africans complained of racial abuse by crowds on their 2005/06 tour of Australia, fears have expressed as to the kind of reception Panesar, the first Sikh to play for England, can expect from home supporters -- a suggestion that has irked many within Australian cricket.

But Panesar, who has played cricket for the Glenelg club in Adelaide and was a member of England's academy squad, under the direction of Australia wicket-keeping great Rodney Marsh, which provided back-up to the senior squad on their ill-fated Ashes tour four years ago, said he'd not experienced any problems in the past.

Adding he found the prospect of playing in front of big crowds, "exciting", Panesar explained: "I felt pretty comfortable out there. Rod Marsh taught me a few things, and it was beneficial. I got a few wickets, and there's a bit more bounce, which helps the spinners."

Panesar said he hoped to form a spin partnership with Ashley Giles during the Ashes, even though the two left-armers are often portrayed as rivals for the same place.