Legendary all-rounder Samit Patel has extended his long love affair with Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club for another year plus this one after agreeing a contract extension until the late summer of 2023.
No longer a red ball regular, 37-year-old Patel these days concentrates on the much shorter white ball format but stated upon his pleasing announcement “I still feel at the top of my game, and I believe I still have a lot to offer, which my performances last season hopefully showed.”
The Leicester born star grew up in Eastwood and has been at Notts his whole career, stretching over twenty years man and boy after making his debut aged just 16 in 2002.
With over 20,000 runs and 686 wickets he has helped his side win league titles, lords’ finals and T20 Blast triumphs as well as pocketing a lucrative Test Cap starring six times for England in the highest form of cricket as well as playing 36 times for his country in one day internationals and 18 times in T20 matches.
Patel told the Nottinghamshire CCC website “This has been my club since day dot, so I am thrilled to bits to sign this extension and to be here for two more campaigns.”
He continued “Myself, Dan Christian and Alex Hales will come fresh into the squad ready for when the Blast begins, which will hopefully add some impetus and white-ball specialism to the group following the block of red-ball cricket at the start of the season.”
Patel has became a white ball specialist over the years and is one of the most underrated stars in cricket, helping Notts to T20 Blast final wins in both 2017 and 2019 he also won ECB40 and Royal London Cup (50 over) Lords’ finals where he took three wickets in both wins over Glamorgan (who he also played for on loan briefly) and Surrey.
The left arm spinner and swashbuckling big hitting batsmen has travelled the world with his skills and has featured in the shorter format of the game in Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, New Zealand, Pakistan, Australia, St Lucia and of course in the opening season of the Hundred with Trent Rockets.
Patel summarised “Since stepping back from the First-Class game, I’ve been able to tailor my training and preparation to limited-overs cricket, and that has benefitted my performances. ”
He said “I am really excited to have at least two more years of playing in front of packed houses at Trent Bridge and striving to deliver some more glory.”
*Main image @TrentBridge Samit Patel delighted to sign until the end of 2023.
