RAVI Patel is fully aware of his own struggles over the past four seasons but the Middlesex spinner remains confident he can reach his potential after turning a corner this season.
A senior debutant in 2010 at just 18, Patel was once heralded as the next exciting English spinner following a call-up to the Lions four years ago but has since found it difficult to nail down a starting place.
But in September, the 26-year old's fortunes seemed to change as he picked up 7-81 for Middlesex against Somerset in the final match of the County Championship season.
That fine spell at Taunton, coupled with hard yards over the winter, seem to be working wonders for the spinner as he snaffled 15 wickets in this year’s Royal London One-Day Cup.
Patel knows just how vital this season is in his career development and feels the belief and confidence he is demonstrating on the field is just the start of things to come.
He said: “I played for the Lions in 2014 and that was recognition for doing well at county level. That was a really great step playing there.
“In the years that have followed I’ve had a few injuries and I do regret how it panned out with those.
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