Patel signing confirmed as Derbyshire build impressively

The story of Samit Patel's 'move' to Derbyshire has been heard for several weeks now, the rumours flying around the local leagues, but nothing coming from Nottinghamshire or Derbyshire to substantiate the stories. Perhaps the greatest story never told...

The announcement of his release was met with a combination of incredulity and cricket fans from around the country hoping that his next stop would be with their county.

Well, that next stop has been confirmed and Samit Patel will line up for least the next two summers in Derbyshire colours. White ball colours, anyway, red ball as required.

And I couldn't be happier.

Let's be honest, he has long been a thorn in Derbyshire sides. His purposeful stride to the wicket has so often been a precursor to a match- winning or turning performance, full of powerful strokes. Likewise, there have been many times when we have made a terrific start against Nottinghamshire, only to find ourselves tied down in the middle overs by his subtle changes of pace and variations in spin.  

Then again, he has been a class act and that is what class acts do. It isn't as if he has reserved his best performances for Derbyshire, because his  statistics over a glittering career are remarkable. He should have played more international cricket than he has, but the present day obsession with athletes looking like greyhounds legislated against him. We can all rhyme off names of players who were less than  lithe yet very talented and it has never been an issue for Patel. Weight is an easy target when a player performs badly, but the reality is that he has been - and likely will continue to be - a match winner.

His experience in 20-over competitions around the world will be of immense value. I see him batting at five or six at this stage - until we know who else is coming in - while continuing to be the bowler who applies the brakes on opposition batters in the middle overs of an innings. It is quite extraordinary that after all these years of cricket he still only concedes an average of just over seven runs an over.

With a Vitality Blast attack that now - injuries willing - includes Patel, Pat Brown, Mohammad Amir and Zak Chappell, Derbyshire should have a good shout in that competition in 2024. The acquisition of an overseas all rounder would make the bowling very strong indeed and pretty much guarantee sell out crowds for home matches.

The concern, I guess, is that Brown, Amir and Patel have all been exclusively T20 players for several years. In two of them preparing for and playing in longer formats, is there a risk they could break down? I don't know the answer to that, but I hope that the county fitness experts, sports scientists and physiotherapists do.

I don't expect Samit to come to Derbyshire and coast in the final years of his career, as that would tarnish the legacy. I mentioned before that  both Ray Illingworth and Tony Lock were players of advanced years who moved county and inspired previously underachieving sides at Leicestershire to remarkable performances. Samit has the potential to do the same and I hope that he understands the opportunity that there is here. Success at an affluent county is expected and perhaps not too much of a surprise - you could argue that Nottinghamshire have underachieved in recent seasons. Doing it at Derbyshire would be something really special.

That's five of the supposed seven signings complete now. Depending on the plan for pitches at Derby, a seamer or spinner who can bat should be the other overseas player, a batter who can offer overs in the field my preferred final piece of the jigsaw. 

Anyway, welcome to Derbyshire, Samit.

Bring your Trent Bridge form with you. It is time to become a hero on the better side of the East Midlands...