Ajaz Patel understands exclusion despite 10-fer, but says Kiwi groundsmen should prepare spin-friendly tracks

The
traditionally
pace
friendly
conditions
at
home
forced
Patel’s
exclusion
from
the
squad
but
the
left-arm
spinner
said
he
will
continue
to
fight
for
his
place
in
the
team.

“One
of
my
things
about
being
a
spinner
in
New
Zealand
is
to
inspire
another
generation
to
take
up
the
art,”
Patel
was
quoted
as
saying
by
‘stuff.co.nz’.

“I’m
still
going
to
fight
the
fight
to
make
sure
spin
bowling
becomes
part
of
the
big
picture
in
New
Zealand
cricket.

“I
think
my
job
as
a
spinner
is
showing
the
groundsmen
that
there’s
something
that
is
possible,
and
then
it’s
up
to
the
groundsmen
to
turn
and
around
and
go,
‘Well,
actually,
we
want
to
see
some
spin
bowling
in
New
Zealand’,”
he
added.

New
Zealand
vs
Bangladesh:
Kiwis
omit
10-wicket
man
Ajaz
Patel
from
Test
squad

“It’s
trying
to
drive
that
change.
At
the
same
time,
we
realise
that
our
home
conditions,
it
can
be
difficult
to
do
that.”

Patel,
33,
felt
ideally
the
change
can
begin
with
domestic
cricket.

“In
domestic
cricket
I
think
there’s
space
for
groundsmen
to
experiment
a
bit.
And
I
think
it
only
helps
us
grow
as
players
as
well
–
one,
from
a
bowling
aspect,
understanding
how
to
bowl
on
those
surfaces,
but
also
from
a
batting
perspective,
learning
how
to
cope
with
conditions
that
are
different.”

Patel
said
his
exclusion
was
expected
keeping
the
conditions
in
mind
but
he
is
still
a
bit
disappointed.

“It
was
more
just
expressing
my
disappointment,
because
I
think
you
still
have
to
express
yourself,
and
still
be
able
to
show
that
you’re
passionate
about
playing
Test
cricket
for
New
Zealand
at
home,”
Patel
said.

“There’s
a
good
relationship
there
with
Gary
(Stead),
as
well,
we
had
some
honest
conversations,
sometimes
they’re
not
the
most
pleasing,
but
at
the
same
time,
we
can
be
up
front
with
each
other
and
know
where
we
stand.

Ajaz
Patel’s
10-wicket
ball
will
have
‘pride
of
place’
in
MCA
museum

“Right
now,
we’ve
got
one
of
the
best
crop
of
fast
bowlers
that
we’ve
ever
had
in
New
Zealand.
I
guess
it’s
just
part
and
parcel
of
the
era
of
cricket
that
I’m
in
right
now.
It’s
a
great
thing
for
New
Zealand
Cricket
to
have
that
conundrum.”

“…I
do
understand
the
reasons
why
they
have
gone
the
other
way.
But
for
me
it
is
still
working
towards
that
and
trying
to
create
that
change.”

Patel
said
selectors
have
overlooked
him
for
this
upcoming
series
but
it
will
only
make
him
hungrier
for
more
Test
caps.

“That’s
kind
of
somewhat
been
what
my
career’s
been
all
about
–
every
time
I’ve
faced
a
setback
or
a
disappointment
I
guess
the
hunger
grows
and
the
fire
in
the
belly
gets
bigger.

“So
for
me
it’s
really
about
just
going
back
and
knuckling
down
and
improving
my
game,
and
all
facets
of
my
game.”