Patel in team of the year

JEETAN PATEL has been recognised for another prolific English county season with his inclusion in the Professional Cricketers’ Association team of the year alongside some of the sport’s big names.

The Wellington offspinner was named alongside test frontliners Alastair Cook, Joe Root, Ben Stokes and Stuart Broad in the PCA XI, of those who played in England during the year.

Durham paceman Chris Rushworth was also included, and won player of the year for his 100 wickets across all three formats, a feat Patel achieved in 2014 when he was named as one of the Wisden Almanack’s five players of the year.

Patel, 35, made a storming finish to the season for Warwickshire, taking 8-126 for the match against team-mate Luke Ronchi’s Somerset at Taunton.

Patel also scored 98 and 27 with the bat, while Ronchi scored 51 and 4 as Somerset snuck home by 17 runs.

Patel’s eight-wicket haul gave him 58 in the county championship season at an average of 25.27.

Another New Zealander to play a full part in the England county season, Jesse Ryder, had a strong campaign for Essex. He scored 806 runs at an average of 42 in division two, and claimed 44 wickets with the ball at an average of 25.

Fellow allrounder James Franklin, now playing as an England local with Middlesex, scored 667 runs at 28 in division one, and took seven wickets at 54.