After 22 seasons, thousands of runs, hundreds of wickets and many magical performances, he has not been offered a new deal at a county that he has graced throughout that time.
Interestingly, his departing comments suggested that his cricket career would continue and one or two sources are suggesting that Derbyshire 'lead the chase' for his services.
It has been a story very much bubbling under for the last few weeks. If I had five pounds for everyone who has mentioned it in correspondence, I would be penning this blog from a beach in the Seychelles right now.
I have heard and read that it is a 'done deal'. Maybe it is, but again, let's say I have heard enough of those that came to nothing and reserve my excitement for when an announcement is made by the club. It is far more legitimate than 'Big Davie' down the pub...
But let's be honest, at 38 Patel is still a serious cricketer. When such players come on the market, there is always going to be a demand for their services.
If Mickey Arthur is wanting to change the playing fortunes of our club, he needs to add players of that calibre. I think that he has signed battlers and winners in the shape of David Lloyd, Pat Brown and Mohammad Amir, all of them players who will roll up their sleeves and battle when the going gets tough.
Patel would be a serious addition. Detractors will point to his age and the fact that he has never particularly looked like an athlete. Then again, I've had the pleasure of watching a number of cricketers over the years who might defy that description, yet have entertained royally and given wonderful service.
No one knows at this stage if the rumours are true. No one knows if, with a change of environment, he might turn out as influential as Ray Illingworth or Tony Lock when they did so at similar ages, or if he might be more of a Fred Trueman or Clive Inman type of signing.
For what it is worth, I would have every confidence that whoever gets the signature of Samit Patel on a contract will acquire the services of a serious player. He is still one of the leading spin bowlers in the country and is still a very good batter. He also has an excellent cricket brain and there would be much logic in using that, potentially, as a one-day captain.
What is not clear is how much cricket he wants to play in the future. Does he see his closing years as a T20 player only, or would he play four-day cricket? His value would be immeasurable were he available for all formats.
But let's not to get too far ahead, at this stage. He is on the market and is going to continue playing.
The time to get excited will be as and when the club announce that he has joined Derbyshire, if that happens.
For now, all we can do is cross fingers and wait.
And at least this would stop him scoring a load of runs against us 😁
ReplyDeletePaul
Very true. Been massive in local derbies. Big occasion player
DeleteNot just runs either. How many times has he bowled miserly spells, or taken important wickets against us? Helped win many games for Notts.
DeletePlayed a little for Langley Mill in the Prem. Rarely lost when he did. He's a winner, and we could do with him in a Derbyshire shirt. T20 captain would be perfect...
I think he could still do a job in 4 day cricket and batting at 6. This would give us the potential to play 2 spinners, without it affecting the seam bowling. Kris
ReplyDeleteWhy would he leave Notts after all these years unless a deal has already been made with another club?
ReplyDeleteWell, they didn't offer a contract, according to reports. After all , when you keep hoovering up the best younger talent around the country , something has to give!
DeleteSo it comes down to who offers the best deal for him. Convenience will be a factor, but I would think there's at least a good two years in him. Personally, I would have chucked the T20 captaincy into the mix as an incentive.
Let's see what happens!
If this happens, it would give us the option of a t20 top seven of:
ReplyDeleteCame
Rees
Madsen
Lloyd
Overseas
Patel
Guest
with a spin option covered.
Add a second overseas bowler who can hit a quick 20 or 30, Chappel, Brown and Amir/Connors/Aitchison and you have a side capable of going all the way ihmo.
Let's see what hapens...
If he signs it would solve a lot of the spin bowling problems where Thomson has performed best this season, but neither Watt or McKiernan have really shone at all. Martin
ReplyDeleteWould be a great acquisition especially if he could be persuaded to play more than just T20. Not sure the county can afford too many one format players bearing in mind we only have a relatively small squad.
ReplyDeleteNudger
My initial reaction was that Patel is too old. But on second thoughts, his experience with bat and ball would bolster the team in any of the competitions.
ReplyDeleteTen months younger than Wayne Madsen. As a yardstick, that will do! He can still play and figures this summer suggest Samit can too. I would bat him 5, but let's wait and see if we get him first. I know MA likes a good SLA bowler and there aren't many better than Samit..
ReplyDeleteAs a T20 player, that's absolutely fine--and to be honest I can't quite see why Notts have released him. But if Derbys are hoping that he'd be an all-format player, then the danger is that (as with Brown and Amir), they're signing someone for 2024 apparently based on what he was like in 2018. None of that trio have played a f-c game in the last three seasons--and for that matter, Brown and Amir don't seem to be the white-ball bowlers they were five years ago. That's not to say that any of them would/will definitely be a failure--but it's not a case of signing players who are almost guaranteed to be huge successes, as (say) Ollie Robinson was at Durham this year. And in red-ball, it'll be a lottery (my guess is that Amir will be seen about as much as the lesser-spotted Lakmal in the Championship).
DeleteThe difference with Madsen is that he's still performing across formats.
And I'm still not convinced that the standard of the players who've been first choices this season is the main issue, especially the batters. It has a bit of an England--spring 2022 vibe about it: OK players, but under-performing for some reason that needs to be identified (or quite possibly, is already identified and needs to be solved!)
I had forgotten that his brother had actually played first team cricket for Derbyshire in 2007 opening the batting against Cambridge university with Freddie Klokker,it would be interesting to know how many cricketer's have represented Derbyshire in the first 23 years of the 21st century compared to how many played for Derbyshire in the entire 20th century?
ReplyDeleteI remember watching his brother play for the 2s a few times. Hoping he would turn out as good as Samit!
DeleteI am sure David Griffin has that stat, but there were many amateurs and a few pros who played only a handful of games pre 1945. With more limited staffs today, I suspect the number is lower. Will try and find out
If we’d had Patel in the side at Scarborough, we wouldn’t have lost by 277 runs. I’d be glad to see us sign him and see how it goes!
ReplyDeleteAndy T
Patel is a seriously underrated cricketer. The reason he didn't play for England more was because he didn't have the right 'look'. Look at his white ball record, there aren't many who could be as consistent as he has for as long as he has. Facet.
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