COVERED WINTER 2020

23 @TRENTBRIDGE “Look at the game that won us the championship at OldTrafford in 2010. The trophy had been taken to the Somerset game and then Samit scores 90-odd at a run-a-ball and takes that catch to dismiss Chanderpaul. “There are countless examples of things like that throughout his career and it rubs off on people when your team can call on players like Samit who do very well in pressure games.We’ll give him all the challenge and support he needs to keep doing that.” His stock is high given the profile of those that endorse his abilities and also because of his prowess with the ball at Trent Bridge – world-renowned as a batsman’s paradise but, perversely, the perfect ground for bowlers to hone their craft upon. “You have to respect economy at Trent Bridge because it’s the hardest ground in cricket to defend as a bowler,” said Samit. “Me and Harry Gurney have watched games at other grounds where bowlers are getting heaped with praise even though the boundaries are massive. “We’ve learned to adapt because we play here so often.The tricks you learn work here and then they work twice as well everywhere else. Stats don’t always pick up on things like that, but those that really know the game know what to look for.” Dan Christian certainly knows the game. The Outlaws’ captain is one of a handful of players to have three Blast titles on his CV, and will aim to be the first to defend it if circumstances allow him to return next season. He was the link that paired Patel with Melbourne Renegades in the most recent Big Bash, and the man behind the in-game decisions that secured silverware at Edgbaston in October. “I like taking the big wickets and I like bowling the big overs and Dan backed me to do that this season,” said Samit. “There was a bit of frustration on my part in some of the group games because I was batting at nine, but you look back and teams weren’t celebrating when we lost three or four wickets because Imad (Wasim) and Mull (Steven Mullaney) and me came in so far down the order. “PeterTrego came off the bench and did what he did in the final and I’m sat there thinking ‘this is the best squad we’ve ever had’.” Retaining the Blast has proved impossible for every champion side to date. Samit believes he can change that. SAMIT PATEL “YOU HAVE TO RESPECT ECONOMY AT TRENT BRIDGE BECAUSE IT’S THE HARDEST GROUND IN CRICKET TO DEFEND AS A BOWLER.” Samit Patel