Patel joins England staff
Wellington offspinner Jeetan Patel has been excused from the first three rounds of Plunket Shield to accept a prized role on England’s coaching staff for the Twenty20 series against his former team-mates.
In a potentially tricky call for New Zealand Cricket, it allowed one of its domestic contracted players to miss part of a competition to help the Black Caps’ opponents in the five-match series starting in Christchurch on November 1.
The 24-test New Zealand offspinner and Warwickshire captain was shoulder-tapped in the past week by the England and Wales Cricket Board who announced Patel overnight as a T20 spin bowling consultant.
Patel, 39, was granted permission by Cricket Wellington and NZC and will be absent when the Firebirds host Otago in round one of the Plunket Shield on Monday. Instead he will head to Christchurch to link up with England, who arrive on Tuesday under new coach Chris Silverwood.
NZC general manager high performance, Bryan Stronach, said the organisation was delighted for Patel who retired from international cricket in 2017.
‘‘We secrets. don’t The have any success trade we’ve witnessed over recent seasons has come from sheer hard work and a committed and determined approach to the game,’’ Stronach said.
‘‘There’s no secret key to success that we’re trying to hide. I think the bigger point is that Jeetan and cricket in New Zealand will benefit from this type of arrangement – the more we share information and intel, the more we’re likely to get back in return.’’
Patel has just returned from another successful season in England where he bowled as well as ever, snaring 64 first-class wickets and boosting his career tally to 892 – fourth on the New Zealand all-time list.
He hasn’t set a retirement date and is contracted to Warwickshire again next year, but said the opportunity was too good to turn down with a view to a future coaching career.
‘‘Of course it’s tricky, I’m a contracted player for Wellington and want to play cricket. But also there’s life beyond cricket. The opportunity came up and I spoke to Cricket Wellington and they were very positive about me doing that, firstly for my development beyond playing and it gives other guys an opportunity to perform in my place which is part of handing over the mantle.
Patel’s stocks in English cricket are already high as one of the top spinners in county cricket, who has worked with the country’s promising spinners and arranged for some to spend a season in Wellington.
England’s T20 squad to face New Zealand includes three legspinners – Adil Rashid, Matt Parkinson and Joe Denly.
‘‘It’s a matter of getting as much experience as you can wherever the roles are. That’s the great thing about these comps around the world. For me looking at what’s next, you’ve got to tap into these opportunities when they arise because they don’t arise all the time.
‘‘To work with England is huge and I’m so grateful that this has come about, now it’s up to me what I do with it.’’
Patel will follow in the bootprints of Shane Bond who joined the England coaching staff as a fast bowling consultant for the 2017 Ashes series.
‘‘I don’t know how it’s going to pan out, I don’t even know if I’ll be any good at it. But I really want to give it a good go. I think I’ve got some attributes that can help some guys,’’ Patel said.