Samit Patel has signed a three-year extension with Nottinghamshire which will run until the end of the 2012 season.
All-rounder determined to play a senior role at Trent Bridge
Samit Patel has signed a three-year contract extension with Nottinghamshire that will keep him at Trent Bridge until the end of the 2012 season.
The 25-year-old endured a fairly lean summer with the bat last year, scoring just 712 runs in Division One of the LV County Championship.
However the all-rounder, who is due to spend two months at the Darren Lehmann Cricket Academy, is determined to come back stronger in 2010.
Patel admits he was "obsessing" over regaining his place in England's one-day squad after being dropped due to concerns over his weight and fitness.
Loyal
"I've always wanted to play my cricket for Nottinghamshire and I want to remain loyal to the club and win trophies here," he said.
"I'm at the stage now where I need to play a senior role in the team and that means scoring runs consistently, taking regular wickets and making match-winning contributions.
"I've made a significant change in my approach because I spent too much time obsessing about England when really I should be focused on doing well for Notts.
"I know that I didn't show enough last year but this is a line in the sand and I'll come back from (a winter training camp in) Australia fitter and better prepared for the new season."
Nottinghamshire director of cricket Mick Newell admits Patel, who has played 11 one-dayers for England, is a key part of the county's long-term plans.
"Lots has been said about Samit's fitness but his ability has never been in any doubt and he's a valued member of our squad," he said.
"There is a lot of responsibility on his shoulders now that Graeme Swann is established in the England set-up and Samit can use that to demonstrate that he's on top of his game."
