- The recently concluded two-match Test series between India and New Zealand did not throw too many surprises in terms of eventual results. As expected, India went on to win the series 1-0 beating the Black Caps comprehensively in the second Test match at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai. The series result could have been 2-0 in Team India’s favour but for the resoluteness shown by the Kiwi last-wicket pair at Green Park, Kanpur holding firmly against the rampaging Indian bowlers. And to think of it, Team India was not represented by some of the biggest players viz. Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant, and Mohammed Shami also speak volumes about the admirable bench strength possessed by the team.
PC: Fayiq Wani
- The Indian cricket is well and truly served is stating the obvious. Heartwarming to look into some of the salient performances of the series. Somebody’s loss is somebody’s gain was proved yet again when Shreyas Iyer in Kanpur and Mayank Agarwal in Mumbai came out with flying colours scoring a century and a fifty in two innings in each of the Tests, respectively. On a flip note, the continued struggles of middle-order batsmen like Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, and Captain Virat Kohli are a definite cause for concern as the challenging Test series in South Africa awaits.
- It probably looks like the long-serving pacer Ishant Sharma may not get much of an opportunity as he was found to be struggling with rhythm and hence, was hardly effective. Even though the Kiwis were overwhelmingly outplayed in the second Test at Mumbai, one of the highlights of the match was a perfect ten wickets registered by left-arm spinner Azaz Patel in the Indian first innings. As you are aware, there are only three instances of bowlers claiming all ten wickets in an innings in the long history of Test cricket. Jim Laker of England and our very own Anil Kumble are the only two other bowlers who succeeded in registering their names in the history books so far.
PC: PIT
- Interestingly, all the three successful bowlers having claimed ten wickets are spinners. And what makes Azaz Patel’s entry into the extremely rare and hallowed frame of achievers is that he took all the wickets in the first innings. Whereas Jim Laker and Anil Kumble scalped their wickets in the second innings. However, Azaz Patel’s miraculous achievement ended in the side losing the match and the series comprehensively but does not take away anything from the bowler though. That Azaz was born in Mumbai and the family immigrated to New Zealand when he was seven years seeking greener pastures add a fascinating twist to the tale that is not lost on the comprehending lot.
- And to perform in the city of birth against a side known to be extremely good players of spin bowling aptly mirrors the enormity of the achievement. Azaz has set a tremendous benchmark that cannot be emulated very often. For his remarkable feat, here’s wishing Azaz Patel a long and successful career in the field of Test cricket!
