Ajaz Patel became only the third bowler in Test history to take all ten wickets in a single innings in the Mumbai Test in early December. Making history, he was in news for his skill and techniques. Unfortunately, Ajaz Patel is not included in New Zealand’s 13-man squad for the two-Test series against Bangladesh.
Rachin Ravindra, an all-rounder who impressed in the two-Test series in India, is New Zealand’s only spin bowling option in the 13-man squad. The series will begin on New Year’s Day in Mount Maunganui, New Zealand. In the absence of Kane Williamson, who is injured, Tom Latham will captain the team. Williamson’s long-standing elbow injury flared up during the T20 World Cup in November. (firework.com) Forcing him to miss the following T20I series against India. While he played the first Test in Kanpur, he sat out in the Mumbai Test, in which Latham was also the captain.
Shows the strength of where we’re at with our pace bowling: Stead
“I think if you look at the reality of spin bowlers in New Zealand in the last four or five years. There hasn’t been a lot of them taking truckloads of wickets,” Stead said at Hagley Oval in Christchurch on Thursday. “And that’s not necessarily the spinners’ fault. But shows the strength of where we’re at with our pace bowling unit at the moment.” “If our four quicks do the job in the role that we want them to do. Then I hope we’re in a position to really dominate the test before it gets too late into it.”
Stead asserted that Patel was “disappointed but realistic” about his omission. Explaining that a spin bowler’s role in NZ would be vastly different from one in Asia. Stead and NZ Cricket selection manager Gavin Larsen named five quick bowlers to the squad. Tim Southee, Trent Boult, Kyle Jamieson, Neil Wagner, and Matt Henry. With four of them to start the first Test on New Year’s Day at Mount Maunganui’s Bay Oval. Rachin Ravindra will instead provide the spin bowling option in place of Ajaz while batting at number seven. “I’d be surprised if Rachin’s not part of that starting XI,” Stead said.
After taking the tenth wicket in the second Test, Ajaz returned to a standing ovation from the Indian fans at the Wankhede Stadium. Kumble congratulated him. And Indian captain Virat Kohli and head coach Rahul Dravid visited the New Zealand dressing room to congratulate Ajaz.
