Patel out to 'prove Notts wrong' on Trent Bridge return

Samit Patel joined Derbyshire on a two-year deal in October

Samit Patel is determined to show Nottinghamshire they were wrong to end his stay with the county last year the best way he knows how - by dazzling in a T20 Blast derby under the lights of a ground he called home for 22 years.

The 39-year-old former England all-rounder returns to Trent Bridge for the first time on Friday as Derbyshire captain, having joined Notts' East Midlands neighbours in one of the most captivating switches in the county game this year.

It was in just his third game as Falcons skipper earlier in June that Patel guided them to their first victory over Notts Outlaws in the T20 Blast for nine years.

"We didn’t just beat them, we hammered them," Patel told BBC Sport.

"And it was probably a statement actually, saying to people who were trying to write me off that it's too early to be honest because there is still a lot of cricket to be played in my body and I’m still enjoying T20 cricket.

"So, yes, I'll hopefully put on a special performance on Friday night."

Samit Patel won two T20 Blast competitions with Notts

After Notts confirmed Patel would not be staying with the club beyond 2023 last September, he made sure he quickly came out to say he was "far from retired".

And it was not just franchise cricket he was keen to chase around the world, with the all-rounder intent to add to the almost 21,000 runs and more than 700 wickets he took in the English domestic game with Notts.

"I kind of got written off basically," Patel said of his Notts departure. "They thought I had to move on and I wasn't ready to move on from Trent Bridge to he honest.

"And that is what I’m doing now in the Blast - showing people and trying to prove people wrong really.

"And the record speaks for itself. If we beat Notts I think they are out of the competition, so there is a lot of things on it."

It was only two years ago that Patel's propensity to excel in this very fixture for Notts was highlighted by the club.

His match-defining knocks as a "rip-roaring, chest-beating, heart-on-the sleeve Notts Outlaw" against Derbyshire were chronicled alongside his record against their fierce rivals - having amassed nearly 600 runs, and taken 30 wickets against them over two decades of T20 meetings.

"I do like a derby," Patel said.

"I think that is what gets me going, to be honest, even if it's Leicestershire. Whoever we play, I just thrive on it.

"I just enjoy the moments of being there at the end or doing something special and winning the game for your county.

"It's one of those special occasions where I love it."

And Friday night under the lights at Trent Bridge is where Patel freely admits he adores his cricket most.

It is where he grew into a Nottinghamshire legend.

"And now it's in a Derby shirt that I'm trying to do the opposite, and trying to turn them over for the second time in a year," Patel said.

Samit Patel was capped 60 times for England across all formats

On his first trip back to Trent Bridge since his departure, Patel will be looking to guide the Falcons to their first T20 win at the ground since 2013.

While he will be on familiar territory, he will also be treading new ground.

"I've never been in that dressing room, and it will be really weird getting changed and having a shower at the end of the game in the away dressing room but hopefully we can sing the team song and it can be nice and loud," he said.

"It will always be a special place.

"To call it home for 22 years then having to move on, the memories that I have there and that we built were very special. There were a lot of trophies won and you won't forget those memories."

And Patel will certainly not forget the people that were there cheering him on over the years.

"I always called the support we got there as our 12th man," he said.

"It'll be interesting to see how they react to me . I think I'll get a good reception to he honest.

"That won't change, obviously playing for a county for 22 years and that relationship you build with members and the crowd.

"And that is now what I'm trying to build at Derbyshire, having the crowd play a massive part and hopefully we can do a number on Notts again."