England’s decision to take Monty Panesar to Australia in October was placed under the microscope again on Friday, when the spinner admitted acting in a “potentially threatening and intimidating” manner towards an opponent.

Panesar has been hit with a suspended one-match ban by the England and Wales Cricket Board’s disciplinary commission after pleading guilty to a breach in County Championship match between Essex and Worcestershire earlier this month.

The ECB did not elaborate on Panesar’s transgression, but on the final day of the match he was involved in a tense exchange with Pears batsman Ross Whiteley.

Umpire Peter Willey was forced to intervene, with Essex skipper James Foster also called into the conversation.

The suspension will be suspended until the end of next season, pending any further violations of the ECB code.

But it places both the 31-year-old and the England selectors in an awkward position, so soon after the latter opted to name Panesar in the Ashes squad.

He has had a difficult year, both professionally and privately, and was only playing at Essex having been effectively let go by Sussex.

Panesar’s performance levels and attitude had caused concern at Hove but events took an unsavoury turn last month when he was fined by police for attempting to urinate on nightclub bouncers in the early hours of the morning.

A move away was deemed necessary for both parties, with Essex ready to take him on loan.

England did not consider Panesar for the final Test of the home Ashes this summer by way of their own disciplinary measure, but Simon Kerrigan’s nightmare debut thrust him back into the mix for the coming tour.

National selector Geoff Miller said when announcing the squad: “He’s appreciated he’s made errors and he’s very sure that those errors are behind him now.”