The majority of testimonial fixtures are friendly matches – exhibitions if you like – with little riding on the result.
Samit Patel’s special game, against Durham in the Royal London One-Day Cup on Thursday, couldn’t be more different.
With crucial competition points at stake, the Sky Sports cameras in town and a host of past & present internationals on show, Thursday’s match will be all-out county cricket warfare.
Patel, of course, wouldn’t want it any other way.
“It’s a great privilege to have a testimonial year in the first place, and to get a game at Trent Bridge is really special,” he said.
“It would be nice to see as many people as possible down at the ground.
“There’s a lot on the game as we aim to keep climbing that table, and I wouldn’t want it any other way. I’m really, really looking forward to it.
“We’ve got to play good cricket. Whatever we do first, batting or bowling, we’ve got to set the tone.
“There’s a lot of experience in our side and we’ve got to try and use that against Durham, who are a good one-day unit.
“They’ll have Mark Wood back and Keaton Jennings is playing really well at the top of their order. It all makes for a great game of cricket.”
While the visitors can call upon the vast experience of former England white-ball captain Paul Collingwood as well as the aforementioned current international duo, Notts – with Jake Ball and Alex Hales back in contention – could select as many as nine full internationals.
Hales and Ball were representing their country against Ireland as Notts swept to victory over Leicestershire at Welbeck on Sunday – and it was Patel that stood up and played a match-winning role.
The 32-year-old all-rounder top-scored with 79 of 60 balls as the Outlaws made light work of their 218-run target, breezing to a third successive victory.
Patel, who has found himself promoted to the upper echelons of the order, acknowledged praise for his own performance but was also keen to praise the contribution of the Outlaws’ pace attack who shared ten wickets between them.
“We always talk about intensity and about being up for a challenge,” he said.
“Thankfully, it was my day against Leicestershire. It was great to get some important runs.
“Some days you get off to a flyer, especially when you get in during the power-play. There are only two men out so you have to make the most of it.
“I should have got 120, 130 not out. That would have given me better satisfaction.
“I’ve been desperate to get a hundred but it’s not quite happened for me.
“It’s caught me a bit by surprise going up to number three, but I’m happy about it and I’m happy with the way I’m hitting the ball.
“The quicks are going really well,” Patel added.
“We’ve got the likes of Broad, Gurney, Pattinson and Fletcher at the top, then there’s Mull and me.
“When we get to the end of the year, on a few spinning wickets, the ball will come to me a bit earlier.”
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Gate receipts from Notts Outlaws versus Durham on Thursday (2pm start) will be donated to Samit Patel’s testimonial year and his affiliated charities.