Patel addresses fitness issue

Nottinghamshire all-rounder Samit Patel accepts he has had to face some “difficult truths” about his fitness and is now looking forward to getting back in the England reckoning.

Patel was initially picked to join up with the limited-overs side in the West Indies but the decision was made to leave him with England Lions due to concerns over his fitness.

Now the 24-year-old insists he has learned some important lessons and is looking forward to proving himself capable of a recall.

“I was desperately looking forward to pushing for a place in the side to face West Indies in the ODI series and it was a big disappointment to miss out,” said Patel.

Samit Patel remained with England Lions in New Zealand after his fitness prevented him from joining England in the Caribbean

“I have had to accept some difficult truths from people in the game that I have a lot of respect for and I don’t want to be in a position ever again where I miss out on selection because of a lack of fitness.

“I have worked hard to improve my fitness and I am looking forward to playing a part for Nottinghamshire and England in an important summer of cricket.”

Mick Newell, Nottinghamshire’s director of cricket, has been impressed by the player’s commitment in pre-season training.

"Samit has been pretty full-on with his fitness work and he's trained either end of the day as well as playing in our pre-season games," said Newell.

"He will still have to reach fitness targets laid down by the ECB but there is no reason why he can't achieve them.

"Samit is still very highly rated as a player and he knows the area where he has to improve. It was important that he made the 30-man squad for the ICC World Twenty20 and he is capable of getting in the final 15, which I hope he does.”