 The Notts duo had been expected to feature in the one-day games |
England spinners Graeme Swann and Samit Patel will play no part in the Twenty20 and one-day matches in the West Indies. Swann is to return home for surgery on his troublesome elbow injury and will be replaced by Gareth Batty, 31, who has not played for England since 2006. All-rounder Patel, however, has been left out for fitness reasons. "He failed, despite repeated warnings, to reach acceptable standards of fitness for international cricket," the England and Wales Cricket Board said. The burly 24-year-old will instead remain with the England Lions on their tour of New Zealand after infuriating the hierarchy with his lack of fitness. National selector Geoff Miller said: "The demands of international cricket are huge and Samit must recognise that fitness levels are a vital part of a successful team in international cricket. "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."  | 606: DEBATE |
England cricket managing director Hugh Morris added: "It is extremely frustrating that Samit has not heeded the warnings of his county, Geoff Miller and the England management and strength and conditioning team. "In the circumstances we had no option but to deselect him from the tour." Worcestershire off-spinner Batty is currently in New Zealand, where he took 2-78 from 26 overs in the drawn Test with New Zealand A. Yorkshire leg-spinner Adil Rashid, 21, who has been in the Caribbean to gain experience with the Test squad, will remain for the one-day matches. Swann meanwhile, will fly home from the Caribbean after the Test series ends in Trinidad on 10 March having experienced discomfort with pieces of floating bone. "I have realised for sometime that I would need surgery on the injury," he said. "We have managed it during the tour but the medical team believe this is the best time for the operation." Nottinghamshire director of cricket Mick Newell is confident Swann is making the right decision and said: "He underwent a similar procedure a number of years ago which gave him lasting benefits. "His immediate target will be to force his way back into the Test side after the impact he made in India and the West Indies."
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