Samit Patel was the one glimmer of light as England exited the World T20, says Paul Collingwood.
'Patel's knock may earn himself greater international recognition'
Paul Collingwood says Samit Patel was the one ray of light for England as they were knocked out of the World T20 by Sri Lanka.
Nottinghamshire strokemaker Patel struck 67 against the tournament's host nation in Pallekele on Monday evening, but could not prevent the 2010 World T20 champions from slipping to a 19-run defeat in their final Super Eight match.
Read our match report here
However, Collingwood and fellow
Sky Sports analyst Marcus Trescothick think right-hander Patel has done himself no harm with his classy half-century.
"England have been adjudged to have played spin poorly in the past but Samit played the spin fantastically," said Collingwood. "He cut very well from just outside off stump and struck the ball beautifully. He knows his areas and seems a very skilful Indian type of player.
"He gave England a bit of a chance and you thought when he was with (Graeme) Swann at the end something special could happen, but to get a 170 target you are going to have everything going your way as a batting unit."
Trescothick said: "The England management will be pleased that Patel has done it under big pressure in a big environment in front of a big crowd. This knock will boost him, but it will also encourage the England management to give him a crack in India (this winter) on similar pitches."
Shocking
England recalled Patel, Ravi Bopara and Jade Dernbach for Monday's match in place of Craig Kieswetter, Danny Briggs and Tim Bresnan.
Nasser Hussain thinks the inclusions of Bopara (who notched one run from six deliveries) and Dernbach (who leaked 42 runs from his four overs) contributed to Stuart Broad's side's defeat - but he says England did not deserve to progress into the semi-finals regardless.
"It was very un-English like (in terms of the selection)"," said the former England skipper. "It was a shocking selection to pick Ravi as he was never going to get any runs, while Dernbach came in and got smacked everywhere.
"The selections have been a little bit weird out here but whoever they selected I think they would be going out at this stage because the issues have been at the top of the order."
Lasith Malinga was England's destroyer in chief, claiming 5-31 with his unconventional seam bowling, and Trescothick reckons the 29-year-old could help fire Sri Lanka to the World T20 trophy.
"With the way they have performed in the last couple of games and in home conditions you cannot help think Sri Lanka are going to get really close to winning the competition, " added Trescothick.
"They have been strong in all areas of the game and continue to progress - but Malinga has come forward and been brilliant."
