FORMER England spinner Monty Panesar has been named as one of four players released by Essex County Cricket Club.

The 33-year-old has been shown the door by Essex, along with Greg Smith and youngsters Matt Salisbury and Saf Imtiaz, with all four to leave at the end of the season.

Panesar is the most high-profile name to leave, having forged a successful England career in which he made 50 appearances for the test side.

However, his career has been blighted by controversy. He was released by Sussex after urinating on a bouncer and he was declared unavailable by former Essex head coach Paul Grayson in July.