Adieu to Samit

It has been a busy week and I haven't had the opportunity to write a few words about the retirement of Samit Patel.

He never looked an athlete, but over a 23-year career he produced many memorable moments, across the globe. He was a wonderful servant to Nottinghamshire and perhaps too early discarded by England.  A batter of great power and a cunning spinner - his type are far from common in the game and you simply can't question credentials that show twenty-five thousand runs and almost a thousand wickets across the formats.

He spent his last two summers in Derbyshire colours, which still seems a strange thing to write. He was such a Nottinghamshire man that the move seemed incredible, like when Terry Hennessey crossed the great East Midlands divide and Forest later wouldn't let Ian Storey-Moore do the same.

Nottinghamshire knew what they were doing when they didn't offer a last deal. The power was still there, but the eyes weren't as sharp when he was in the middle. He was often out pulling, a little late on the shot, but there were still signs of a player who could bat. A thrilling innings at Edgbaston, another at Derby, an attitude that still bristled with hostility towards opponents. Especially Nottinghamshire and I have rarely seen anyone more 'pumped' than Samit, when Derbyshire stormed the Trent Bridge fortress and went home with the points booty. 

His reluctance to drop himself down the order wasn't helpful at times. His power might have been better served at the death, rather than losing impetus in the middle overs with his 'running', or lack of it. By that stage he was far from mobile, but he stood at short extra and directed operations, while usually delivering four tight overs. 

Again, the team might have been better served had he bowled those overs in the Powerplay, the experience of those thousands of deliveries brought to bear in his last round up.

There never appeared any likelihood that his Derbyshire contract would be renewed, but Samit will likely still be bowling four tight overs for England Legends in ten years time. 

He will club a few too, but probably not run many twos...

Congratulations on your career Samit. You were up there with the very best, for a long time.

Plenty would be happy with that.