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BCCI name replacement for John Gloster

London-based physiotherapist Nitin Patel is named as replacement for the injured John Gloster

Cricinfo staff
26-Jun-2007


John Gloster is expected to return after his surgery and assist and advise his replacement Nitin Patel © AFP
The Indian board (BCCI) has named Nitin Patel as replacement for the injured physiotherapist John Gloster.
Patel, a London-based physiotherapist, has previously worked with the Baroda Cricket Association and with the England and Wales Cricket Board's fast bowling research group. He did his masters in Sports and Exercise Medicine from the University of Nottingham in the UK.
"He [Patel] has acquired experience [by] working closely with national high performance programme team to develop measures for injury prevention/pre-rehabilitation and rehabilitation," said Ratnakar Shetty, BCCI's chief administrative officer.
The BCCI said that Gloster, who fractured his elbow on June 21, would be out of action for at least four to six weeks. However, he is expected to return to the side after his surgery and advise and assist Patel in the interim.
Patel said that he would leave for Belfast on Tuesday evening and would reach only after the first ODI against South Africa. Though the BCCI release indicated that Patel would be with the team for the rest of the tour, captain Rahul Dravid stated otherwise.
"The board has checked out his credentials apparently, and he'll be here with us for two-three weeks only, till John gets fit," Dravid told Hindustan Times. "And John will be with us in any case after two-three days to supervise."
Shetty had earlier stated that India A physio Vaibhav Daga would join the team in England.