England ready to avenge Test rout

Abu Dhabi: Samit Patel, who made an effective contribution with both bat and ball in England's 130-run win over Pakistan in Monday's opening One-Day International, feels it is now payback time.

While skipper Alastair Cook and Steve Finn hogged the limelight with their batting and bowling respectively, Patel hit an unbeaten 17 and starred in an undefeated 28-run stand with Graeme Swann for the eighth wicket with the bat, and then dismissed Pakistan's top batsmen Misbah-ul-Haq, Shoaib Malek and the dangerous Shahid Afridi in an effective 3-26 spell.

Speaking to reporters yesterday, Patel said: "We're looking to absolutely nail this series, to beat them 4-0, whitewash them — obviously a bit of payback for the Test series.

"The boys are geared up for it — we know exactly what it's going to take. It's important to highlight the skill levels we need against their spinners. It would be a great achievement to beat them 4-0 in their own backyard, but that's the aim. That would be fantastic. We've got to aim high," said the 27-year-old, who bats right handed and bowls slow left arm spinners.

England were outplayed by Pakistan in the three-Test series, but Monday's thumping win in the first of the four ODIs has sent their confidence sky-high.

Tough period

"I wouldn't say it's [a] relief, it's just great to get back to winning ways. It's been a tough period that we've had, but you've got to take the ups and downs and move forward — and we're doing that right now. It was a bit of a statement," Patel said.

Commenting on the criticism that was hurled at the team during the Test series, Patel felt Cook's innings and the win was a fitting answer, adding that the team were building for the next World Cup.

"A lot of skill is involved in one-day cricket and we're all trying to improve and be as good as we can be — and we're aiming to try to win the World Cup. It starts by playing in tough series like this against good opposition," said Patel.

"We can be dangerous. We've got a lot of talent in our squad — the likes of KP [Kevin Pietersen], [Ravi] Bopara and [Eoin] Morgan in the middle order and [Craig] Kieswetter ... there's a lot of firepower," he said.

"Obviously Finny [Steve Finn] blasts away up top with Jimmy [James Anderson] and Broady [Stuart Broad], we're looking at a good squad ... and we've not even mentioned Swanny [Graeme Swann] yet. We're going in the right direction," said a confident Patel.

Commenting on his chances of getting into the Test squad, Patel said: "At the moment I'm concentrating on the one-day series, trying to perform here. If it [a Test place] comes, it comes — if it doesn't, it doesn't."