Ravi Patel is a slow-left-arm bowler on Middlesex's books with a reputation as a big spinner of the ball: in Loughborough tests early in his career when it came to getting revs on the ball he came behind only Graeme Swann and Monty Panesar, established England internationals at the time. He has had England Lions honours but as he reached his mid-20s his county career was progressing only slowly.

A product of the expensive, picture-perfect pastures at Merchant Taylors' school he continued his cricket development while studying Economics at Loughborough University. He made his first-class debut against Oxford MCCU in 2010 and his one-day debut in the same season against the Australians. However, with Ollie Rayner having arrived from Sussex his chances were limited and it was not until 2014 that Patel found more regular opportunities - especially in Twenty20 where he enjoyed a productive season despite Middlesex's poor form. With England desperately searching for spin-bowling answers, he was handed an England Lions call-up that season. But he proved much less effective in the Championship, taking ten wickets at 64.70 apiece in 2014.

Middlesex then only gave him one Championship match in 2015, loaning him to Essex, and his much-praised effectiveness in T20 cricket faltered markedly, too, as he conceded nearly 10 an over and failed to take wicket in five matches. Spin bowlers mature later, but even allowing for that, it suggests a career in danger of going astray.
ESPNcricinfo staff