Coach Mark Robinson has described Monty Panesar as irreplaceable after the England spinner’s Sussex career was brought to an abrupt end yesterday.

Panesar has joined Essex on loan until the end of the season when he will be released from his contract which still has two years to run.

The 31-year-old had endured a troubled season at Hove both on and off the pitch, culminating in receiving a police fine for urinating on a nightclub bouncer two weeks ago.

Panesar – who will make his debut for Essex today – took 200 first class wickets for Sussex since joining from Northamptonshire in 2010 and his form at Hove helped re-establish his standing as the second best spinner in England after Graeme Swann.

Robinson said: “Monty is a world class player and if you take anybody like that out of the team you are going to leave a hole.

“At his best he is like having another overseas player in the team because he can attack and defend at the same time.

“But we’ve had to say goodbye to some great players over the years like Mushy, Chris Adams and James Kirtley and you learn you can’t replace them.

“He is the second best finger spinner in the world so you are never going to get a like for like replacement. You don’t even try to look for that but look for someone who can bring different things to the team.”