It’s not every day that BLACKCAPS and Central Stags spinner AJAZ PATEL finds himself top-scoring in an innings — and ideally, it’s not something he would wish to happen, either.

Patel found himself in exactly that position after the Stags’ doomed chase in Nelson last week where the defending champions suffered their first loss of the season. 

Better known for his prodigious feats with the spinning ball, Patel stepped up with one of his best first-class scores: a bittersweet 49, while trying to save his side from nine in the batting order. 

It may not have saved the day, but Patel now has two first-class half centuries and two knocks of 49, all scored in the last four seasons as the Test spinner continues to look for improvement in his all-round game.

“Batting is an element that I have constantly been working on, to try and contribute and to keep getting better,” said Patel as he headed off to Dunedin for this week’s key third-round Plunket Shield match against the Otago Volts.

“In one respect, it was nice personally to be able to have an opportunity to do that against the Firebirds, although obviously disappointing to get out when I did.”

PHOTOSPORT

Patel ticked past 1,500 first-class career runs in the process, to go with his 331 first-class wickets — including his brilliant 10-for in a Test innings against India in Mumbai in December 2021. 

He also chalked up his 250th Plunket Shield victim for the Stags, becoming just the third player in the team’s 73-year history to have passed that milestone in the red-ball game, during the latest match.

Patel now has 253 wickets in the green baggy (among 331 in his overall first-class career).

That's behind only retired paceman MICHAEL MASON (263) and another former Test and County spinner, DAVE O'SULLIVAN who holds the phenomenal Stags record of 392 wickets.

The stat chat is starting to pile up for the 35-year-old late bloomer who was once a diminutive under-19 pace bowler trying to crack the New Zealand Under 19 World Cup squad before switching to the art of slow bowling. 

But even claiming a famous Test 10-for hasn’t stopped him from tinkering and trying to improve his bowling game, as well.

Having relied on the most economical of run-ups for the majority of his career, off just four paces, with finely controlled body positon and balance, the subtlety of Patel’s variations and ball speed brought him 324 first-class wickets heading into this season.

But he spent the winter boldly remodelling his approach to the popping crease after having watched fellow BLACKCAPS spinner and good friend Ish Sodhi develop his own longer, faster run-up last summer.

Patel decided to try on the trend for size during his off-season training, then debuted his new run-up in the Stags’ preseason intersquad games and friendly matches against Northern Districts in Napier last month, running in off eight paces, at a far quicker tempo. 

The early results gave him the confidence to take it into the Plunket Shield, and he’s netted seven wickets from the first two matches — neither of which have been on decks particularly conducive to spin.

That’s expected to change later in the summer as a hot, dry El Niño weather system takes effect. The last time New Zealand experienced one of those, Patel took 43 wickets in the Plunket Shield season (back when it was played as a double round robin, over 10 rounds), and he was the top wicket-taker for a remarkable three summers on the bounce before he broke into the Test squad. 

“I’m just looking to grow with the game,” says Patel now — with potential selection for the BLACKCAPS’ Test tour of Bangladesh coming up on the radar.

“I think the game’s moving forward, and as a spinner you’re always looking for ways to continue to challenge batsmen. 

"I think the [new] run-up allows things to happen a little bit quicker, from the action as well as off the surface. It’s about creating less time for batters in terms of [their] decision-making."

It’s also still a work in progress, he adds. 

“It’s something that’s still relatively new for me, so it’s just finding that rhythm, and that balance of getting the pace right. 

"We’ve played on two relatively flat surfaces so far this season, so to have been able to challenge batters on both the inside and the outside on some good batting surfaces, I suppose shows where it’s at.

"It’s been fruitful so far.

PHOTOSPORT

 

"I’ve had some good feedback from behind the stumps about the ball fizzing in, so it’s been good, and I’m pretty excited to see what happens once we get on a wicket that’s offering a little bit."

The Stags are the defending Plunket Shield champions, and head into the third of eight rounds sitting in the top half of the table —  with a timely opportunity to climb back up that ladder this week.

While the team is coming off its first loss of the season, the Wellington Firebirds and early leaders Northern Districts have gone two from two. 

Those two teams will face each other in Wellington this week, while the Stags (who took an innings victory off the Auckland Aces in the first round) go up against the winless Otago Volts at Dunedin’s University of Otago Oval.

Central has a chance to whittle down the 15-point gap at the top of the table and, despite the shock of the 170-run loss in Nelson, Patel says there’s no reason to panic. 

“We’ve been playing better than that result would suggest, and we just need to keep doing what we’ve been doing well and showcase our talent.”

The Stags selectors have again named an unchanged squad for the away match, before the team heads back to Napier for the last round this side of Christmas.

The four-dayer is scheduled to begin at 10.30am tomorrow (Monday 6 November). Follow the match with livescores and our free livestream here at cdcricket.co.nz

This month, the Stags and Central Hinds will be hosting a FREE Super Smash Open Day at Mitre 10 Park, in Frimley, Hastings, on 20 November 2023.

SUPER SMASH OPEN DAY 2023 

WHERE : Athletic Stadium Track at Mitre 10 Park

42 Percival Road, Hastings

WHEN : 10am-2pm, Monday 20 November

Come along between 10am and 2pm on the day and score free Junior tickets to our Dream11 Super Smash T20s in January, meet the players and our crazy mascot The Stag, play some fun games, and enjoy a free sausage-sizzle lunch!

Remember it's always cheaper to buy tickets online than at the gate on game day, so if you're looking forward to attending any of our Dream11 Super Smash doubleheaders - in Palmerston North (27 December), New Plymouth (29 and 30 December) or Napier (8 and 10 January), get tickets at the best prices by booking ahead.

 

 

 

 

2023/24 PLUNKET SHIELD

Round Three

 

CENTRAL STAGS v OTAGO VOLTS

University of Otago Oval, Dunedin

10.30am • Monday 6 to Thursday 9 November, 2023

Free admission

 

CENTRAL STAGS SQUAD

 

GREG Hay (captain) — Nelson

DOUG Bracewell — Hawke’s Bay

JACK Boyle — Hawke’s Bay

TOM Bruce — Taranaki

JOSH Clarkson — Nelson

DANE Cleaver (wicketkeeper) — Manawatū

CURTIS Heaphy — Manawatū

AJAZ Patel — Hawke’s Bay

BRETT Randell

BRAD Schmulian — Hawke’s Bay

BLAIR Tickner — Hawke’s Bay

RAY Toole — Manawatū

 

Head Coach: GLENN Pocknall

 

Contracted players unavailable for selection:

WILL Young — 2023 ICC Men's Cricket World Cup

JOEY Field - return to play process following shoulder rehabilitation

 

OTAGO VOLTS (unchanged)

Dean Foxcroft (c), Matt Bacon, Max Chu (w, vc)

Jacob Cumming, Jacob Duffy, Luke Georgeson

Jake Gibson, Ben Lockrose, Jarrod McKay

Thorn Parkes, Dale Phillips, Jamal Todd 

 

 

FULL SCHEDULE

Follow the campaign with hashtags:

#plunketshield #lovethestags

 

Get your Nelson and Napier BLACKCAPS tickets here!

Article added: Saturday 4 November 2023