England cricket news: Samit Patel called up for Pakistan series after Zafar

Samit Patel has won a surprise recall for England for the first time in almost three years afterZafar Ansari was ruled unfit for the forthcoming series against Pakistan in the UAE because of a hand injury.Ansari’s selection for what would have been his England debut series was a clear indication that England were looking to the next generation, but Patel has always suggested he has never quite abandoned hope of an England recall and that faith has now been justified.

Ansari was included in the 16-man squad last week – his first Test call-up – only to suffer an open dislocation to his left thumb when fielding in Surrey’s Division Two fixture at Old Trafford later that day.

Patel, another all-rounder, returns to the squad having already picked up five Test caps in his career and National Selector James Whitaker insists he is the natural replacement for Ansari.

Plenty have been ready to write off Samit Patel’s global prospects in the 31 months since he made the last of his 59 England appearances, in a T20 worldwide against New Zealand in Hamilton in February 2013.

The uncapped Ansari dislocated his finger while playing for Surrey against Lancashire, just hours after being selected for the tour party to face Pakistan in the UAE.

“I was not expecting a Test call”, Patel, 30, told BBC Radio. “I would like to get more of a role with the bat but I will bat anywhere”.

“I didn’t think this day would come again”, he said after Notts’ County Championship game with Hampshire.

“I thought the door was closed on Test cricket”.

“I was planning to go on holiday to Dubai next week, so this is a pleasant surprise”, he said.

England will play three Tests, four ODIs and three T20s against Pakistan in the upcoming tour, starting from October 13 in the United Arab Emirates.