Ryan Patel has enjoyed a stellar start to the 2022 LV=County Championship season, in five innings he has amassed 246 runs at an impressive average of 64. Here he talks about how a more positive and attacking mindset has given him the belief that he can succeed at the top of the order.
Patel was at the non-strikers end to witness captain Rory Burns, Hashim Amla and Ollie Pope depart in relatively quick succession on the final afternoon of Surrey’s clash with Somerset at The Kia Oval. But 24 year old Patel was unperturbed, playing a mature and up-tempo innings, his 102 runs and 133 minutes at the crease saw him plunder 14 fours to break the back of the fourth innings run chase and set up victory.
A superb 💯 for Ryan Patel set the tone for this afternoon's successful chase.
Watch all his best bits here 👇 https://t.co/IQmYro3siH
— Surrey Cricket (@surreycricket) April 24, 2022
The powerful driving and dismissive pulls peeled off by Patel in his career best score showcased a more attack minded approach, one that he has displayed through pre-season and into the early rounds of the LV=County Championship.
“I’ve got a lot more confidence in my ability after a winter of hard work and also a lot of work last summer. Both Gareth Batty and Vikram Solanki [current and previous Surrey head coaches] have been brilliant with me.”
“I think the main thing for me was just backing myself and backing my ability. I can score runs and I can do this. Confidence is the biggest thing, I feel very, very different to last year.”
His knocks this year have seen a more positive, stroke-making style.
“It’s actually not a conscious thing, I’m playing shots that I probably wouldn’t have previously through lack of confidence really. I think now I’m actually going out there and I can back myself to hit the first ball for four or I don’t need to leave the first few and get myself in. If the balls are there to be hit then hopefully I’ll hit them.”
With the backing of Batty, Patel has felt more assured in his approach.
“Bat’s has just been brilliant, for all the lads. He has just told me to back myself. He said if I get out playing a shot, don’t worry. Keep going and go again. I think that’s been brilliant for me.”
Here’s fourth innings centurion Ryan Patel giving his thoughts on the win to @backandacross 💫 💯 👇 pic.twitter.com/dhJF9FOtXX
— Surrey Cricket (@surreycricket) April 24, 2022
Patel, Batty and Surrey will be hoping for more notches in the runs tally and wins columns as the 2022 campaign continues.
Surrey’s next opponents will be Gloucestershire at Bristol, beginning Thursday 28th April.
