Spinner Ejaz Patel, who became the third bowler to take all 10 wickets in a Test innings in the Mumbai Test in early December, is not included in New Zealand’s 13-man squad for the two-Test series against Bangladesh.
Ajaz Patel was dropped from the squad, with Rachin Ravindra being the only spin bowling option. (AP photo)
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- Ejaz Patel took 14 wickets in Mumbai and bowled almost 70 overs
- He was the first player after Anil Kumble to take 10 wickets in an innings
- Tom Latham to captain New Zealand in place of ailing Kane Williamson
Spinner Ejaz Patel, who created history by taking all 10 wickets in an innings in the second Test against India in early December, has been dropped for New Zealand’s next series against Bangladesh at home. The 33-year-old was the third player in the history of Test cricket to take all 10 wickets in an innings and ended the match with 14 wickets in nearly 67 overs.
All-rounder Rachin Ravindra, who also made a mark in the two-Test series in India, is the only spin bowling option picked by New Zealand in the 13-man squad. The series will be played in New Zealand and will begin at Mount Maunganui on New Year’s Day.
Tom Latham will lead the team in the absence of injured Kane Williamson. Williamson’s long-standing elbow injury flared up during the T20 World Cup in November, forcing him to miss the T20I series against India. When he played the first Test at Kanpur, he was ruled out of the Mumbai Test, in which Latham was also the captain of the team.
New Zealand head coach Gary Stead said after the first Test that Williamson could be out for a longer period of time, although it was unlikely he would undergo surgery.
After taking the 10th wicket during the second Test, Ijaz returned to the standing ovation of the Indian fans at the Wankhede Stadium. Kumble congratulated him while Indian captain Virat Kohli and head coach Rahul Dravid came to New Zealand’s dressing room to congratulate him.
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