SAMIT Patel's lack of fitness has cost him his place in the England one-day squad.

The Nottinghamshire all-rounder was today told he would not be joining up with the team for the one-day series and Twenty20 game against the West Indies after ignoring “repeated warnings” over his fitness.

“The decision follows Patel's failure, despite repeated warnings, to reach an acceptable standard of fitness for international cricket. He will now remain with the England Lions for the conclusion of their tour of New Zealand," said a statement from the ECB.

“Patel's fitness has been monitored since he returned from India in November after touring with the England one day side. He has undertaken two fitness assessments since the start of the year and on both occasions the results were unsatisfactory.

National selector Geoff Miller, who spoke to 24-year-old Patel, said: “The demands of international cricket are huge and Samit must recognise that fitness levels are a vital part of a successful team in international cricket.

“He really needs to understand and grasp that fact because his fitness levels have regressed between his first assessment during the build up to the England Lions tour and the second Test during the first week in New Zealand.”

England cricket managing director Hugh Morris said: “Samit Patel is a talented cricketer but he, like every other player who joins the senior England team, must be aware of the strict fitness criteria that will be set.

“It is extremely frustrating that Samit has not heeded the warnings of his county, Nottinghamshire, and the England national selector Geoff Miller as well as the England management and strength and conditioning team. In the circumstances we had no option but to deselect him from the tour.”

Yorkshire's Adil Rashid, who has been a part of the England Test squad, will now remain with the sidein Trinidad for the Twenty20 against West Indies and the subsequent five one-day internationals.

Worcestershire's Gareth Batty will fly to Trinidad from the England Lions tour to replace Graeme Swann, who will return home after this week's final Test for an operation on his right elbow.