Croft also believes Panesar could lose his place after claiming just one wicket in 47 overs.
Meanwhile spinner Monty Panesar took 3-21 in arguably his most impressive spell for the national team.
BBC: SPORT | Cricket | England | Harmison delighted to find rhythm
And two of the club's spinners, Monty Panesar and Graeme White, left for Sussex and Nottinghamshire respectively.
Kent supporters, meanwhile, were hoping James Tredwell might have been selected ahead of either Panesar or Rashid.
BBC: Monty Panesar and Chris Tremlett in England Ashes squad
And despite a valiant eight-wicket stand of 78, Panesar brought down the curtain with three quick wickets.
It is also true, surely, that Panesar could not bowl as badly as his colleagues managed at Headingley?
Panesar is another to have benefited from a move to a new county, with 52 wickets for Sussex.
BBC: Monty Panesar and Chris Tremlett in England Ashes squad
Panesar claimed the last three wickets for 18 runs as the home side were all out for 251.
It ended eight balls after the restart, Panesar trapping How plumb in front with one that went straight on.
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Panesar came on after 20 minutes but there was no turn to the right-hander and Ganga twice confidently cover-drove him for four.
Giles, meanwhile, was seen smiling on the balcony, genuinely delighted at Panesar's success.
Monty Panesar wrapped up the innings for 250 and Northants soon ploughed on.
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Durham bowlers Steve Harmison and Graham Onions are in action from Friday and Northamptonshire spinner Monty Panesar from 31 August.
And just minutes later Fleming's career came to an end when he snicked Panesar behind, Ambrose taking a fine catch.
Anderson and Hoggard captured three wickets each in the first innings, while spinner Monty Panesar took two in the second.
Johannes van der Wath took 3-32 for the home side, Andrew Hall and England's Monty Panesar each taking two wickets.
But David Lucas took 3-26 and Monty Panesar got Alex Gidman (36) after he shared 80 with Hamish Marshall (47no).
BBC: SPORT | Cricket | Counties | Northants on course for third win
The 27-year-old looked well set to build on that milestone with a straight drive off Panesar in the 44th over.
And following a brave piece of captaincy from Andrew Flintoff, Panesar had his revenge over Symonds before deceiving Adam Gilchrist.
Graeme Swann and Monty Panesar - two good friends - left Lord's together on Tuesday, but surely only one will play.
Monty Panesar helped to restrict the scoring when Ganguly failed to properly connect and was well caught on the mid-wicket boundary.
Reserve keeper Steven Davies, seamer Tim Bresnan and spinner Monty Panesar are the three players omitted from the 16-man touring party.
Instead, Panesar parried the ball, quickly hurled in a pinpoint throw to Prior and Ganguly could not get back in time.
Both fell to Panesar, though, and Broad took 2-40 as the hosts closed on 222-5, still 331 runs off a record victory.
But, together with fellow Englishmen Tim Bresnan, Robert Key, Anthony McGrath, Monty Panesar, Mark Ramprakash and Jonathan Trott, he was not sold.
Andrew Hodd lost his off stump shouldering arms, while Lewis Hatchett and Monty Panesar guided successive balls to Matt Mason at gully.
Both Northants' spinners struggled with the conditions, Panesar finishing with figures of 1-88, while South African all-rounder Boje (1-81) fared little better.
Gallian was removed by Nicky Boje and Maunders by England's Monty Panesar.
Panesar, who himself had a poor day in the field, deceived the advancing Oram only for Ambrose to fumble a straightforward stumping opportunity.
Sidebottom saw Sinclair put down by a diving Cook at gully and Kevin Pietersen inexcusably dropped Taylor, who miscued a hook off Panesar.
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