New Zealand cricket great Richard Hadlee lauded spinner Ajaz Patel for his memorable performance against India on November 5, 2021, at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai. Ajaz Patel became the only New Zealand cricketer to pick up 10 wickets in an innings and also the third cricketer in the history of Test cricket to do so.

He joined an exclusive club of Jim Laker and Anil Kumble.

The 33-year-old spinner also surpassed Hadlee’s record of best figures by a New Zealand bowler. Hadlee had taken 9/52 against Australia back in 1985.

“Congratulations to Ajaz on a superb bowling performance. It was a delight to watch. A well deserved reward, and a great moment for him, New Zealand cricket, and world cricket,” Hadlee said in a statement.

“To be in the great company of Jim Laker and Anil Kumble is very special indeed,” the statement added.

“Good luck to him and the team in the second innings.”

Laker and Kumble were the only previous bowlers to take 10 wickets in a Test innings, for England in 1956 and India in 1999, respectively.

New Zealand’s greatest spin bowler, Daniel Vettori, also congratulated the bowler.

“It’s an amazing achievement,” he said immediately after it happened.

“I’m trying to think how to rank New Zealand’s greatest achievements greatest in Test cricket.

“I think a lot of people talk about Brendon McCullum’s 300 [302 against India in a draw at the Basin Reserve in 2014], but this surpasses that because it’s just been so rare.”

Hadlee’s 9-52 came in a rare away win for New Zealand over Australia.

Vettori’s best test figures were the 7-87. He managed it against Australia at Eden Park in 2000, and he said Patel’s 10-for had been “so exciting to watch”.

“To feel that anticipation and to see the team get around it and get a feel for it, it’s one of the special test cricket moments and for all those guys involved in it, it will be something they remember forever.”

Ajaz Patel’s place in history

Best test bowling figures

10-53: Jim Laker for England v Australia; Manchester, 1956

10-74: Anil Kumble for India v Pakistan; Delhi, 1999

10-119: Ajaz Patel for New Zealand v India; Mumbai, 2021

Best NZ test bowling figures

10-119: Ajaz Patel v India, Mumbai; 2021

9-52: Sir Richard Hadlee v Australia, Brisbane; 1985

7-23: Sir Richard Hadlee v India, Wellington; 1976