Former England spinner Monty Panesar is hoping to make a return to cricket after battling paranoia/schizophrenia over the last few years.

The 37-year-old left-armer has played 50 Tests for England with his last international appearance coming in the Ashes series against Australia during December, 2013.

It was the same year that Panesar was let go from Sussex after urinating on a nightclub bouncer and he has now been without a county club since 2016 following brief stints at Essex and Northamptonshire.

Panesar has credited former England skipper Mike Brearly, who is a respected psychoanalyst, for helping him overcome his battle with mental woes.

“My parents became worried. They wanted me to see someone,” the former England man told the Daily Mail.

Panesar has picked 167 Test wickets for England.

“I had always thought strong people couldn’t have a problem. My cricket had always gone the way I had planned it, but suddenly things started going in a direction I hadn’t experienced since childhood.

“It was a guy called Peter Gilmore who said I was suffering from paranoia/schizophrenia and that shocked me massively. Mike Brearley told me to be careful about the things I was saying to myself. Some experts thought I’d never get better but I knew I could fight it, come through it.”

Having picked up 167 Test wickets for England at an average of 34.71, Panesar is now hoping to make a return to competitive cricket.

“I’m mentally and physically 100 per cent back to my best and I’ve been good for the last two years,” he said.