New Zealand spinner Ajaz Patel has created a record while playing against India in the Mumbai Test match. He has become the third bowler in the 144-year history of Test cricket to claim ten wickets in an innings. He has achieved this mammoth feat in the second Test of the two-match Test series between India and New Zealand at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Saturday, 4 December. Before Ajaz, two other bowlers took ten wickets in a Test inning.
Former Indian spinner Anil Kumble was the second player who took ten wickets in an innings against Pakistan in Delhi in 1999. Jim laker, former England cricketer claimed ten wickets in 1956 against Australia.
Ajaz was born in Mumbai. He was only about eight when his family left the city of dreams in 1996 to pursue their aspirations in New Zealand. He began as a fast bowler before he realised spin would open more doors for him. He has said he had to learn the art “from scratch” under the guidance of another New Zealand spinner of Indian origin, the former off-break bowler Dipak Patel.
The doors to the national team, however, did not open for Ajaz until he was past 30, an age by when spinners are also said to have matured. And instantly, he took five wickets on debut against Pakistan in Abu Dhabi in 2018 to deliver a thrilling four-run win.
