The return of Ajaz Patel is set to strengthen New Zealand’s spin attack for the upcoming Test series against India.
The left-arm spinner, Ajaz Patel will make a comeback to the arena to stand in for the absence of Mitchell Santner. Along with Patel, Trent Boult is also set to join the Test squad.
The addition of Patel to the team will be an advantage according to Craig McMillan, former batting coach. He said that Patel can pick up four or five wickets in a Test match.
McMillan added, ‘Mitchell Santner, over a period of time, has done a holding role for New Zealand. And that's down quite often to the conditions in New Zealand that aren't really conducive to have the ball turning much. It's the seamers who do all the damage and take most of the wickets’. McMillan last coached the team for the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup.
Meanwhile, Patel expressed his excitement for his return to the field. Since his debut in 2018, he has only played seven Test matches.
On the other hand, in the last 12 months, Santner has played a Test match against Sri Lanka, two against England and two against Australia, but only picked up an overall of five wickets.
Now, the New Zealand Test squad is composed of captain, Kane Williamson and teammates, Tom Blundell, Trent Boult, Colin de Grandhomme, Kyle Jamieson, Tom Latham, Daryl Mitchell, Henry Nicholls, Ajaz Patel, Tim Southee, Ross Taylor, Neil Wagner and BJ Watling.
The Test series between New Zealand (+106) and India (-125) will begin on Friday, February 21 at the Basin Reserve in Wellington, New Zealand. If you are looking for the most reliable cricket odds, check out the Betwala page.
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