Andy Flower disgruntled at Samit Patel’s lack of professionalism
While most teams preparing for the 2011 World Cup are aiming to harness their batting and bowling skills, one team is focusing primarily on the fitness of its players.
Although it is a given that international players should be physically fit, the English team management has cited Samit Patel’s weight issues as the sole reason for the non-inclusion of the talented http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Nottinghamshire-c826
all-rounder.
Patel, who made an impressive start for England in ODI cricket, was dropped after a few games primarily to his lack of fitness, and it seems that the left-arm spinner and big hitter was not willing to budge
much despite being named in the probables (the 30-man shortlisted squad) for the World Cup.
After much deliberation, it was decided that Patel was not willing to improve his fitness, and the result was his omission from the final 15-man team. England’s team director http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Andrew-Flower-c44362 was left fuming
at his attitude and minced no words in declaring his disgust.
"It is very frustrating but only the individual is responsible for that," Flower told reporters in Hobart. "Samit was chosen in the [provisional 30-man] squad because his type of player would be very useful
in the subcontinent. He was chosen on the condition that he would improve his physical state to be in consideration for this squad of 15. All we were saying was 'get into reasonable shape'. It didn't have to be perfect. In fact, all we wanted to see was an
improvement, but a significant improvement. He hasn't done that.”
He added that no one wanted Patel to trim down completely; the idea was to see if he was willing to discipline himself for the opportunity of playing cricket at the highest level. According to Flower, Patel
did not show the level of commitment that was required of him and hence was not chosen.
"We don't expect any of our guys to be perfect, physically, but we do expect them to work hard and it is an indication of your mindset and how much you want to play for England, how you are able to discipline
yourself," he said. "You have to make good decisions to get yourself into good physical shape. We want tough, determined cricketers playing for England and he is not indicating that he is capable of that."
Patel has been widely criticised by the English media for his apparent lack of interest in coming close to the fitness levels required for the biggest stage of cricket. They bemoaned the fact that a naturally
gifted player was letting his talent go to waste due to his lack of discipline.
He impressed with both bat and ball when he appeared for the national team in ODIs in 2008; he claimed a haul of 5 for 41 against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/South-Africa-c757 at The Oval and according to selector Geoff Miller, "he knows
what is required ... the ball is in his court now and he has to go away and understand what is necessary."
Nottinghamshire’s coach Mick Newell stated that Patel only has himself to blame for his non-selection. He added that Flower had reposed confidence in him and given him a long time to fix his fitness issues
yet it seems that Patel does not have the will. "Andy's given Samit a lot of time, it's nearly two-and-a-half years since he played for England, so he's been well aware of what's been required of him to get back in the squad," said Newell.
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