SAMIT SPECIAL
He’s not the leanest, but Patel’s ready for England Test return
ALOT of time has been spent debating samit Patel’s figure over the years but with the Ashes on the horizon he used domestic cricket’s prime-time event to shift focus on to his figures.
In a bygone era, performances in september finals won winter tour places. And with the classy strokeplay that guided Nottinghamshire to a maiden Twenty20 title on saturday, he made a compelling contemporary case that one of the holes in England’s top six could be samit- shaped after all.
Patel, who will turn 33 on the final day of the first Test against Australia at the Gabba, does not fit the prototype, gym-honed physique that England have demanded in recent years.
Indeed, he was overlooked for the 2011 World Cup squad because of a substandard attitude towards fitness.
However, as pointed out by Nottinghamshire coach Peter Moores, despite the bulky build, Patel is cricket-fit and able to influence major matches.
Before entering the action for the first time at Edgbaston, as a batsman in the semi-final win over Hampshire, Patel smeared his forehead with Vaseline to stop sweat dripping into his eyes. Clearly anticipating a day of hard graft, he did not disappoint.
Moores said: ‘You hear all sorts of things talked about samit, his fitness and whatever, but he works harder than people give him credit for.
‘He does the all-rounder’s role and he’s as fresh at the end of a day like this as he was at the start. He’s not a bloke who cramps up, he just gets out there and does his job: two run-outs, bowls, bats well.
‘We put him into that No 5 position because the pressure is on in the middle order in one- day cricket. You have to add to the rate and play brave shots.’
On saturday, Patel top-scored with 99 runs — no one faced more balls or batted more minutes. He also bowled a full complement of eight overs.
The performance crowned a season which, according to Moores, has seen the player transformed into a Test-ready batsman. It is potentially bad news for Tom Westley and perhaps even Dawid Malan, who has only one foot on the plane to Australia.
Moores added: ‘At the moment the batting slots are up for grabs in the Test team. some people are taking their opportunities, for some it’s still a little bit in the balance with the Ashes looming.
‘samit’s got his own style which would suit international cricket well because he sits back a little bit and doesn’t go at the moving ball quite the same as some people.
‘On the county circuit you play all the time and those that can prepare well within it can keep getting better, no matter how old they are — whether 18 or 35.
‘samit has started to get better again and when a player who’s more mature gets better you get excited, because they can win you games.’
For Moores, himself cast aside for a second time by England in 2015, securing the treble via the Division Two title later this month would prove a personal point. unfortunately, it appears history will define his England career as it did those of Graeme Hick and Mark Ramprakash — two of his contemporaries as players. Neither was able to transfer outstanding county success to international level.
However, Moores hit back at his post-World Cup axing by saying: ‘The hardest thing for me was the whole concept that I coached with some restrictive style. It was completely unfounded. That was the most hurtful thing.’
PIERRE DE BRuYN has left Leicestershire after a year as coach of the Division Two club. The 40-year- old south African has overseen 11 Championship matches without a win and Leicestershire are bottom of the table.