England entree, now mains
In a sporadic test career, one thing is becoming a habit for Ajaz Patel: celebrating overseas test wins as the dressing room heaves to ‘‘old school classics’’ via DJ Ross Taylor.
Sunday at Edgbaston, Birmingham, was more subdued than after Patel’s test debut in Abu Dhabi in November 2018, but just as significant.
The eight-wicket victory over England was completed inside the first hour of day four to seal a rare and prized series victory – New Zealand’s first in the UK since 1999 and a first test victory at Edgbaston at their fifth attempt.
It was Patel’s ninth test, and sixth overseas. Of those six he’s won four (two against Pakistan and one each in Sri Lanka and England), and snared 26 wickets at 26.38. At home, where the sight of green pitches gives spin bowlers the shivers, Patel still awaits his first test wicket.
‘‘The debut is always going to be special because it was my first experience of test cricket, my first taste. That was an amazing series,’’ Patel said of his man-of-the-match award on debut against Pakistan in 2018.
‘‘But I cherish this as much because, in a way it felt like a debut series again having been away with injury for so long and getting an opportunity.
‘‘For a lot of guys it was special beating England at home. It’s a difficult feat and a lot of people have mentioned how hard it’s been in the past over here. It’s nice to be on the other side of the coin, we’re making sure we enjoy the moment and have a bit of fun.’’
And now, the fun continues with a nervous wait thrown in, after Patel’s match haul of 4-59 off 23 overs including the prized wicket of England captain Joe Root. The extended 20-man squad get an unscheduled rest day as they return to their initial base at Southampton’s Ageas Bowl where India await for the inaugural World Test Championship final starting Friday night (9.30pm NZT).
Five of the squad drop out today as coach Gary Stead confirms his 15 for the decider, an International Cricket Council requirement. India’s spinners Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja look likely to feature, while Patel and Mitchell Santner contend for the Black Caps’ spin berth.
Said Patel: ‘‘I’ve done my part and my preparation and now it’s up to the selectors. My foundation of faith [Patel is Muslim] allows me to be at peace with whatever happens. ‘‘... I’m trying to prepare like I’m in the team. I wouldn’t want to be a selector right now because there’s some pretty tough decisions and we’ve got a squad that’s playing some amazing cricket, and it’s been highlighted how much depth we really have.’’
The Black Caps’ focus on the WTC final was clear when they rested Tim Southee, Kyle Jamieson and Colin de Grandhomme and made six changes from the draw at Lord’s.
Still they savoured the Edgbaston victory, just their sixth from 56 tests in England, which moved them back past India to world No 1.
Asked what was more important, a series win in England or the WTC final, stand-in skipper Tom Latham said: ‘‘Both sound pretty good’’.
The dry, sluggish pitches at Lord’s and Edgbaston, caught the touring side on the hop but they adjusted with the likes of Patel, and assistance with prodigious swing from the Dukes ball. What is served up at the Ageas Bowl will be interesting, with groundsman Simon Lee predicting pace and bounce with potential for it to spin later.
‘‘They probably weren’t the surfaces we were expecting but it’s important we adapt,’’ Latham said. ‘‘Around the world nowadays to win away from home is not easy so for us to come here and pull this off is a great achievement. Certainly very exciting but we know we’ve got another huge test match coming up.’’
And for Patel, too, a world final against his country of birth would be huge. India have been preparing at the Ageas Bowl with an intrasquad match, and bookmakers can barely split the two sides with Virat Kohli’s men slight favourites.
‘‘Either way it’s going to be a cracking game. We’re playing some good cricket and I feel confident in the way we’re approaching it and we’re in a good position to push for that trophy,’’ Patel said.