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Samit Patel out of 'payback' against Pakistan

 

David Clough
Wednesday 15 February 2012 11:15 GMT
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Samit Patel was today set to begin stage two of England's "payback" against Pakistan for their Test series whitewash.

But irrespective of whether England go 2-0 up with two to play tonight, or are pegged back in this one-day international series, Patel believes experiences such as these will shape their challenge for the 2015 World Cup.

He took three wickets, and made 17 quick runs, in England's 130-run trouncing of Pakistan on Monday - when opener Alastair Cook and fast bowler Steven Finn both weighed in with career-best performances.

Patel was delighted captain Cook so resoundingly silenced, once again, those who have continued to insist he does not have the range of stroke to be an effective ODI batsman in the modern era.

He contends too that Cook's hard work, and success, are symptomatic of all that England are trying to do collectively.

"A lot of skill is involved in one-day cricket, and we're all trying to improve and be as good as we can be - and we're aiming to try to win the World Cup," he said

"It starts playing in tough series like this against good opposition."

Pakistan made a mockery of England's world number one Test status, beating them 3-0 as the tourists' batsmen failed again and again to come to terms with the spin of Saeed Ajmal and Abdur Rehman.

The off-spinner was at it again, with five wickets but ultimately to no avail for Pakistan, on Monday.

England found a way of winning, easily, despite Ajmal's personal success - and Patel is convinced they have the depth of talent not only to aim for their own whitewash here but to become a serious threat to all in the ODI format.

"We can be dangerous," he said.

"We've got a lot of talent in our squad - the likes of KP [Kevin Pietersen], (Ravi) Bopara and (Eoin) Morgan in the middle order and (Craig) Kieswetter ... there's a lot of firepower really.

"Obviously Finny [fast bowler Steven Finn] blasts away up top with Jimmy [James Anderson] and Broady [Stuart Broad], we're looking at a good squad ... and we've not even mentioned Swanny [Graeme Swann] yet."

Patel is excited at the opportunity he has been given to play his part, as a destructive batsman at number seven and a canny wicket-taker and container with his left-arm spin.

"We're going in the right direction.

"It's done on merit, and you've got to perform to stay in the team.

"That's good pressure, competition within the camp."

He still recalls England's 5-0 defeat in India last October with a grimace, but added: "I'm loving the role at the moment.

"Unfortunately, we didn't go too well in India - but we've got to look forward now, and this series is key to put a bit of a marker down playing in the sub-Continent and well against spin.

"We've started really well."

PA

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