Welcome to ‘perfect 10’ club: Anil Kumble’s appreciation post for Ajaz Patel

Ajaz Patel made Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai his own by etching his own name in the 144-year-old history of Test cricket. For New Zealand, he took 6 wickets on the second day of the ongoing final Test match against India. By doing so, he became a part of an exclusive 3-member club of cricketers who picked up 10 wickets in an innings.

He joined Anil Kumble of India and Jim Laker of England. While Kumble achieved the feat in 1999, Laker did it back in 1956.

Appreciating Ajaz Patel and hailing his performance, Anil Kumble tweeted: “Welcome to the club #AjazPatel #Perfect10 Well bowled! A special effort to achieve it on Day1 & 2 of a Test match.”

Ajaz, who had migrated to New Zealand with his parents back in 1996, ended the Indian innings with figures of 47.5-12-119-10.

The 33-year-old cricketer, playing his 11th Test, had only two five-wicket hauls and the best match haul of seven wickets before Saturday’s feat.

He bowled four separate spells of 24-10-57-4, 5-0-16-0, 6-0-16-2, 12.5-2-30-4 and got his 10th and final wicket in the form of Mohammed Siraj, who tried a slog and was caught by another player of Indian origin Rachin Ravindra.

Patel got a standing ovation from the Indian team as the umpires handed him the coveted ball while leading his team off the field.

Incidentally, Patel is the second player after Douglas Jardine, who has played against India in his city of birth.

The 33-year-old Ajaz’s effort was also the best by a visiting spinner in India, surpassing Australia’s Nathan Lyon (8/50) in 2017.

While the other New Zealand bowlers were rendered ineffective, Patel troubled the Indians with his guile from day one when he took all the four wickets to fall.

“I have been privileged to see some incredible things from @BLACKCAPS in my 15 years of commentary and today is right up there. @AjazP That was special mate,” wrote former New Zealand pacer Simon Doull, who is commentating in the second Test.

“One of the toughest things to do in the game of cricket. To have an entire team in your kitty in an innings is too good to be true. Simply unreal. Well done young man – Ajaz Patel,” wrote former India head coach Ravi Shastri.