Mumbai, Dec 7 (PTI) India-born New Zealand cricketer Ajaz Patel is not sure if his rare 10-wickets-in-an-innings feat would prove to be life-changing but he is hoping that it would help him play 80-90 Tests for his adopted homeland.The 33-year-old Mumbai-born etched his name in history books last week when he took all 10 wickets in India's first innings in the city of his birth, becoming only third cricketer to do so after Jim Laker and Anil Kumble.Ajaz, who still has big family presence in Mumbai, looked back at that unforgettable week in a media interaction ahead of New Zealand's return back home following a 0-1 series loss to India on Monday. He is not expecting a cash windfall following his heroics but hopes that he has inspired kids of Asian origin to take up the sport back in New Zealand, preferably spin bowling. I'm not too sure to be honest with you. I'm very much in the present at the moment, said the left-arm spinner when asked if he expects his life to change. Yes, I've achieved something amazing, but it's a new day and there's more cricket to come. So for me, it's about staying grounded as the person that I am, down to earth and nothing's really changed.And it's not going to really impact me too much because I know there's a lot more left in my career. And if you look at my career, I'm 11 games in and I hope to be one of those cricketers that's played 80 or 90 games for New Zealand by the end of my career, said the soft-spoken New Zealander.In what was his response to a hypothetical question, Ajaz said he would never want to play for another country than New Zealand though he feels a strong connect with India. New Zealand is a place that I've been brought up. It's a place where I've learned my craft. It's a place where I've been given the opportunities to develop as a cricketer and be the person that I am and the cricketer that I am and without New Zealand cricket, I probably wouldn't have the career that I have now.So I wouldn't change it for the world. And yes, I also call myself an Indian by heritage and I'm proud of that too. Ajaz, who is a devout Muslim, also spoke his mind on a sensitive topic like racism and how the 2019 terrorist attack at a mosque in Christchurch impacted him.At a time, when English cricket has been rocked by racism allegations levelled by British Asian cricketer Azeem Rafiq, Ajaz said he did not face discrimination in New Zealand.We speak about diversity and racism now from a sporting perspective, but I don't think it's something that so much influenced me particularly in my culture, but that or in my upbringing, but I won't say it doesn't exist. I've actually through my journey have felt quite comfortable in New Zealand. I've been very, very grateful than the Blackcaps environment as soon as I came and they've been very very respectful about my culture, my beliefs, my rituals like for me if I need halal food though they will source it from anywhere if they have to. I remember my debut season (in 2018) they sent someone along with me to the masjid so that I could pray and also in the change room so if I need to pray, guys are very respectful and give me the space and the time to pray. He also recalled a touching gesture from his neighbours back home following the Christchurch attack.When that happened it impacted the Muslim community a lot. We all were scared at that time. But the way our government handled it and the entire community, we received a lot of love, Ajaz said. My mother walks out of home in a burqa, there is no judgement there. When the attack happened, the construction in our new house was going on. The neigbours must have seen my mother in a burqa (and found that we were Muslims), what our neighbours did was the put a plant on the staircase and there was a letter which said 'we support you and you are part of our community'. He also credited his coach Rowland Barrington, a former Karnataka cricketer who moved to New Zealand, for his growth as a cricketer. He concluded the interaction by talking about the 10-wicket haul. To be honest, I wasn't thinking about it at all until I got the ninth wicket because I was so long into my spell. As a spinner you focus on one ball at a time and you don't try and get too far ahead of yourself. So my main focus was just to bowl the best ball that I could one ball one at a time. I knew that it would be a special achievement if I'd got all 10. So there was a bit more pressure on that last over with Siraj facing and me only having about four balls left.

Not sure if my life would change but want to play 80-90 Tests for New Zealand: Ajaz Patel

Newzealand

AjazPatel

India

Mumbai

JimLaker

AzeemRafiq

Mumbai, Dec 6 (PTI) Mumbai Cricket Association chief Vijay Patil on Monday felicitated New Zealand spinner Ajaz Patel, who became only the third bowler to take all 10 wickets in an innings. The Mumbai-born Ajaz joined Jim Laker and Anil Kumble in the rare 10-wicket club after taking all 10 wickets of India's first innings in the second Test which the hosts won by 372 runs.MCA President Vijay Patil felicitated Ajaz Patel with the score sheet and a momento, a senior MCA official told PTI.He also said that the Kiwi spinner did his bit for the upcoming MCA museum.Ajaz Patel handed over ball and T-shirt for the museum, the official added.Patel had spent in childhood in Mumbai and his cousin stays in suburban Jogeshwari.

MCA felicitates Ajaz Patel for his rare feat

Auckland, Dec 5 (PTI) Spinner Ajaz Patel's 10-wicket haul is a great moment not only for him but for New Zealand and world cricket as well, the legendary Richard Hadlee said while eulogising his compatriot. Patel became only the third bowler in history of Test cricket to take all 10 wickets in an innings. The left-arm spinner achieved the rare feat on Saturday against India in the second Test, joining the illustrious company 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 nine for 52 versus 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.

Great moment for him, NZ cricket and world cricket: Hadlee on Ajaz show

Australia

Sudipta Biswas

New Delhi, Delhi, India

Jim Laker was the first cricketer to take 10 wickets in an innings, achieving the feat against Australia in the 1956 Manchester Test. Till today, his 10 for 53 is the best bowling figure in an innings of a Test match. Though Anil Kumble and Ajaz Patel, the latest entry into the elite list, took 10 wickets in an innings nobody has ever come close to what Laker achieved. Laker’s 19 for 90 is the best bowling figure ever registered by a bowler in a Test match. The only bowler who came close to him since he achieved the feat was India’s Narendra Hirwani, who claimed 16 wickets against West Indies in 1988. Also Read: India vs NZ, 2nd Test: Twitter reacts to Ajaz Patel’s historic feat,Before dismissing Australia for 205 in the second innings, Laker made nine Australian batters his victims to bowl Ian Johnson’s Australia out for 84 in 40.4 overs. ,But there was a controversy around the 1956 Manchester Ashes Test. England was on the backfoot against Australia at the start of the series. After a draw in Nottingham, on a lively Lord’s wicket, the visitors posted a big win to take a 1-0 lead. Heading into the third Test at Headingley, England’s best option of wrestling back the momentum was to let their Surrey spin duo of Tony Lock (left arm finger-spin) and Jim Laker (right-arm off-spin) dictate terms. They combined to take nine wickets in each innings (total of 18 wickets in the match) to dominate Australia. Controversy around pitch ,Naturally, heading into the fourth Test at Old Trafford in Manchester, the pitch was under focus. Also Read: When Anil Kumble claimed 'perfect ten' to bamboozle Pakistan,“Bradman wouldn’t have lasted on that pitch,” is how one Australian — Len Maddocks — who played in that match described the 22-yards that was offered by the Old Trafford curator. “Looking back on it, I still believe the English administration cheated. But not the England players; they played the game perfectly well, according to the traditions of the game, and they weren’t responsible for the conditions,” said Colin McDonald, the man who top-scored for Australia in the second innings with a remarkable 89 when no other visiting batsman crossed 40 in the entire match. England won the toss and scored 459. The hosts would have been confident of winning on a pitch that would deteriorate but no one could have predicted what came next. Also Read: Welcome to 'perfect 10' club: Anil Kumble's appreciation post for Ajaz Patel,When Laker and Lock got into the act, Colin McDonald and Jim Burke looked comfortable enough. Twenty-eight had been added when England captain Peter May brought back Brian Statham to help the spinners switch ends. Bowling from the Stretford end, Laker immediately had McDonald caught at short-leg. Neil Harvey was bowled off the second delivery, the ball pitching on leg-stump, turning across the face of the bat, hitting off. “It was the ball that won the Test,” Laker observed later. ‘Laker has taken all 10’ ,Returning after tea, Lock had Burke caught at slip. It was an important wicket, the only Australian wicket in the match not taken by Laker. At the other end, the mild-mannered Surrey off-spinner ran through the side in another 35 minutes, taking 7 for 8 in 22 balls. The Surrey pro did turn his off-breaks appreciably, but the surrender of the Australians was remarkably docile. Also Read: 2nd Test: Ajaz Patel makes history as Kiwi collapse puts India in control,Only four Australian batters managed a double-figure mark with McDonald scoring 89. ,As Laker completed perfect ten, John Arlott in the commentary box announced the decision before the umpire. “Laker’s taken all 10!”,The famous figures read 51.2-23-53-10, 19 for 90 in the match.

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Heading into the third Test at\\nHeadingley, England’s best option of wrestling back the momentum was to let\\ntheir Surrey spin duo of Tony Lock (left arm finger-spin) and Jim Laker\\n(right-arm off-spin) dictate terms. They combined to take nine wickets in each\\ninnings (total of 18 wickets in the match) to dominate Australia.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"<b>Controversy\\naround pitch </b>\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Naturally, heading into the fourth Test at\\nOld Trafford in Manchester, the pitch was under focus.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Also Read:&nbsp;<a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/when-anil-kumble-claimed-perfect-ten-to-bamboozle-pakistan\\\">When Anil Kumble claimed 'perfect ten' to bamboozle Pakistan</a>\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"“Bradman wouldn’t have lasted on that\\npitch,” is how one Australian — Len Maddocks — who played in that match\\ndescribed the 22-yards that was offered by the Old Trafford curator.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"“Looking back on it, I still believe the\\nEnglish administration cheated. But not the England players; they played the\\ngame perfectly well, according to the traditions of the game, and they weren’t\\nresponsible for the conditions,” said Colin McDonald, the man who top-scored\\nfor Australia in the second innings with a remarkable 89 when no other visiting\\nbatsman crossed 40 in the entire match.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"England won the toss and scored 459. The hosts would have been confident of winning on a pitch that would\\ndeteriorate but no one could have predicted what came next.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Also Read:&nbsp;<a href=\\\"https://opoyi.com/anil-kumbles-ajaz-patel-appreciation-post-welcome-to-the-perfect-10-club\\\">Welcome to 'perfect 10' club: Anil Kumble's appreciation post for Ajaz Patel</a>\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"When Laker and Lock got into the act, Colin\\nMcDonald and Jim Burke looked comfortable enough. Twenty-eight had been added\\nwhen England captain Peter May brought back Brian Statham to help the spinners\\nswitch ends.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Bowling from the Stretford end, Laker\\nimmediately had McDonald caught at short-leg. Neil Harvey was bowled off the\\nsecond delivery, the ball pitching on leg-stump, turning across the face of the\\nbat, hitting off.&nbsp; “It was the ball that\\nwon the Test,” Laker observed later.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"<b>‘Laker\\nhas taken all 10’ </b>\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"Returning after tea, Lock had Burke caught\\nat slip. It was an important wicket, the only Australian wicket in the match\\nnot taken by Laker.\"}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"data\":{\"text\":\"At the other end, the mild-mannered Surrey\\noff-spinner ran through the side in another 35 minutes, taking 7 for 8 in 22\\nballs. 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<ul>
  <li>Jim Laker took 19 for 90 in the 1956 Manchester Test</li>
  <li>Only Narendra Hirwani, with a 16-wicket return, has come close to his figure</li>
  <li>Ajaz Patel and Anil Kumble are the only other bowlers to take 10 wickets in an innings</li>
</ul>

#JimLaker

Not sure if my life would change but want to play 80-90 Tests for New Zealand: Ajaz Patel

MCA felicitates Ajaz Patel for his rare feat

Great moment for him, NZ cricket and world cricket: Hadlee on Ajaz show

When England's Jim Laker became the 1st to take 10 wickets in a Test innings