England has dropped left-arm spinner Samit Patel from its one-day squad in the West Indies after he failed to reach an acceptable level of fitness despite several warnings.
Patel was due to join the squad in the Caribbean but England announced on Wednesday that he would remain with the second-tier Lions squad in New Zealand.
"Samit Patel is a talented cricketer but he, like every other player who joins the senior England team, must be aware of the strict fitness criteria that will be set," England cricket manager Hugh Morris said.
"It is extremely frustrating that Samit has not heeded the warnings of his county, Nottinghamshire, and the England national selector Geoff Miller as well as the England management and strength and conditioning team. In the circumstances we had no option but to de-select him from the tour."
The England and Wales Cricket Board said Patel's fitness was monitored after he returned from England's one-day tour of India in November. Although he had two fitness assessments early this year, both were unsatisfactory.
"The demands of international cricket are huge and Samit must recognize that fitness levels are a vital part of a successful team in international cricket," Miller said.
"He really needs to understand and grasp that fact because his fitness levels have regressed between his first assessment during the build up to the England Lions tour and the second Test during the first week in New Zealand."
With Patel no longer going, Yorkshire spinner Adil Rashid will remain in the Caribbean having been in the Test squad.
Graeme Swann, who has been playing in the Tests, will return home after the fifth match in Trinidad for an operation on his elbow. He will be replaced by Worcestershire's Gareth Batty.
Patel was due to join the squad in the Caribbean but England announced on Wednesday that he would remain with the second-tier Lions squad in New Zealand.
"Samit Patel is a talented cricketer but he, like every other player who joins the senior England team, must be aware of the strict fitness criteria that will be set," England cricket manager Hugh Morris said.
"It is extremely frustrating that Samit has not heeded the warnings of his county, Nottinghamshire, and the England national selector Geoff Miller as well as the England management and strength and conditioning team. In the circumstances we had no option but to de-select him from the tour."
The England and Wales Cricket Board said Patel's fitness was monitored after he returned from England's one-day tour of India in November. Although he had two fitness assessments early this year, both were unsatisfactory.
"The demands of international cricket are huge and Samit must recognize that fitness levels are a vital part of a successful team in international cricket," Miller said.
"He really needs to understand and grasp that fact because his fitness levels have regressed between his first assessment during the build up to the England Lions tour and the second Test during the first week in New Zealand."
With Patel no longer going, Yorkshire spinner Adil Rashid will remain in the Caribbean having been in the Test squad.
Graeme Swann, who has been playing in the Tests, will return home after the fifth match in Trinidad for an operation on his elbow. He will be replaced by Worcestershire's Gareth Batty.
AP
Thursday, March 05, 2009 12:08:13 PM
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