England spinner Monty Panesar is convinced his miserable tour of Sri Lanka can help him become a world-class bowler.
Panesar, 25, took only eight wickets as England lost their recent three-Test series in Sri Lanka 1-0.
The Northamptonshire star's lacklustre displays were interpreted as a sign that he is stagnating after an impressive start to his international career.
But Panesar believes it is inevitable he will suffer at times against the world's best players and he expects to bounce back against New Zealand in the New Year.
"There has been a lot of focus on my bowling in this series but let me tell you straight away that I am looking at the whole experience in a very positive way as I head home to reflect and rest before we go to New Zealand at the end of January," Panesar told the Daily Mail.
"I want to experience tough conditions and I want to bowl a lot of overs at high-class players of spin in their own country, to test myself against them and see where I am at in my career. That is what has happened to me here.
"I may not have taken as many wickets as I would have liked but I see this tour as a crucial part of my learning curve. I needed the examination of my progress that this tour has brought.
{{/usCountry}}"I may not have taken as many wickets as I would have liked but I see this tour as a crucial part of my learning curve. I needed the examination of my progress that this tour has brought.
{{/usCountry}}"There have been times here in Sri Lanka when I have beaten the bat, taken a few edges which have not quite gone to hand and caused problems by bowling into the rough from over the wicket. So it has not been all bad."