Samit Patel faces up to 'difficult truths'

Samit Patel, the England allrounder, has admitted to facing some "difficult truths" after he was dumped from the one-day squad to tour West Indies for failing to reach a suitable level of fitness.

Patel was withdrawn from the limited-overs team after the England management decided he hadn't heeded earlier warnings about his fitness. He remained with the Lions squad in New Zealand, but was told in no uncertain terms that improvements were needed if he wanted his England place back.

Since the harsh reality hit home, Patel has been working hard to reach the required levels both with the Lions and now back with Nottinghamshire in the build-up to the county season. He is desperate to learn from the tough experience and come back a better player.

"I was desperately looking forward to pushing for a place in the side to face West Indies in the ODI series and it was a big disappointment to miss out," he said. "I have had to accept some difficult truths from people in the game that I have a lot of respect for and I don't want to be in a position ever again where I miss out on selection because of a lack of fitness.

"I have worked hard to improve my fitness and I am looking forward to playing a part for Nottinghamshire and England in an important summer of cricket."

The selectors showed faith in Patel, who burst onto the international scene late last season with some impressive displays against South Africa, by naming him in the 30-man World Twenty20 squad and the performance set-up. He also received the support of Mick Newell, his county coach, who saw at first hand a player working flat out to earn a second chance.

"Samit has been pretty full-on with his fitness work and he's trained either end of the day as well as playing in our pre-season games," Newell said. "He will still have to reach fitness targets laid down by the ECB, but there is no reason why he can't achieve them.

"Samit is still very highly rated as a player and he knows the area where he has to improve. It was important that he made the 30-man squad for the ICC World Twenty20 and he is capable of getting in the final 15 which I hope he does."