After a starring role for Notts Outlaws in their maiden domestic T20 title, Samit Patel has expressed his desire of playing for England again. The all-rounder last played a Test in 2015 while his last limited-overs appearance came way back in 2013, but with the Ashes around the corner, he is once again harboring hopes of donning the England jersey.
Patel, who was in the England squad for last year’s Test series in South Africa, also admitted he got hurt after being consistently ignored by the national selectors.
“I love playing for England. It means the utmost to me. I don’t think that I’ve let them down when I’ve pulled on an England shirt,” Patel said. “The selectors haven’t spoken to me since the South Africa trip that I went on and didn’t play.
“And yes, that has hurt. I’m not going to lie to you, especially, in the white-ball format. I’m an ambitious player. You shouldn’t play for Notts if you don’t want to play for England in my opinion. Putting on that England shirt; it means everything to me,” he added.
Patel walked into bat in the final against Birmingham Bears when the Outlaws were reeling at 30 for 3, Patel played an unbeaten knock of 64 and added 132 runs with Brendan Taylor- the highest partnership in the history of English Finals Days – to help his side put up a daunting total of 190 for 4. Birmingham never looked in contention to chase down the big total and were eventually restricted to 168 for 8.
Patel was adjudged the Man of the Match for his brilliant knock. He finished the tournament with 405 runs at an impressive average of 40.50 and a strike-rate of over 146 runs per hundred balls. The right-handed batsman further said that he would be disappointed if he gets ignored again.
“I have thought about picking up the phone, but there’s only one winner there. It won’t go down well if I pick up the phone. The only way I can get back in is by putting in performances like today. I’d be disappointed if they didn’t watch that. It should have put my name back in the shop window,” he said.
“I know my game much more now,” he said. “I’m a different player. The tempo of my batting has improved this year. Class will always show. Don’t even count me out of Test cricket. I know I’m ready. If the selectors ring me, I’m ready.”