All-rounder Samit Patel has been dropped from England’s one-day squad in West Indies because he is not fit enough.
“Samit Patel is a talented cricketer but he, like every other player who joins the senior team, must be aware of the strict fitness criteria that will be set,” said England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) managing director Hugh Morris yesterday.
“It is extremely frustrating Samit has not heeded the warnings of his county Nottinghamshire and England selector Geoff Miller, as well as the England management and strength and conditioning team. In the circumstances we had no option but to de-select him from the tour,” Morris said in a statement.
Patel, who is not part of the Test squad in West Indies, will now remain with the England Lions on their tour of New Zealand.
The 24-year-old last played for his country in a one-dayer against India in November and has since failed two fitness assessments.
“The demands of international cricket are huge and Samit must recognize fitness levels are a vital part of a successful team in international cricket,” Miller said.
Yorkshire spinner Adil Rashid, a member of the test tour, will now stay with the team for the Twenty20 international on March 15 and the five one-dayers which begin on March 20.
The ECB also said Worcestershire’s Gareth Batty would leave the Lions tour to replace spinner Graeme Swann, who will fly home after this week’s fifth and final Test in Trinidad for an operation on his right elbow.
■MORKEL SET TO SHINE
REUTERS, DURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA
South Africa expect Morne Morkel’s bowling to cause Australia trouble in the second Test starting tomorrow.
He returned mediocre match figures of four for 158 in the opening-Test defeat in Johannesburg but coach Mickey Arthur believes the lanky paceman will be more suited to the harder pitch at Kingsmead.
“I thought he bowled a bit better in Johannesburg than his figures showed and I expect him to bounce back quickly especially since there is usually extra bounce here in Durban,” Arthur told reporters yesterday. “I’ve chatted to some great batsmen and they all sing his praises. They hate facing guys like Morne because of that extra bounce.”
However, Arthur acknowledged Morkel’s bowling would have its ups and downs.
“He’s so exciting with the ball but he’s going to have some good spells and some wonky spells,” the coach said.
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