India vs New Zealand: Excited spinner Ajaz Patel ready for challenge

Patel,
a
left-arm
spinner,
was
born
in
Mumbai
but
migrated
to
New
Zealand
when
he
was
eight
years
old.

The
33-year-old,
who
hasn’t
bowled
in
first-class
cricket
since
June,
is
looking
to
play
a
crucial
part
in
the
two-Test
series
against
India
which
begins
in
Kanpur
on
Thursday
(November
25).

“I
have
been
to
parts
of
India
now
that
I
haven’t
really
seen
before.
India
has
been
really
cool
but
bit
of
a
shame
that
we
can’t
really
get
out
and
experience
India
but
that’s
the
nature
of
the
world
at
the
moment.

“India
is
about
hustle
and
bustle.
There
is
a
bit
of
excitement
about
India.
I
always
think
about
it
as
organised
chaos
to
a
certain
degree,
something
that
really
makes
it
special,”
he
said.

Talking
about
the
challenges
on
bowling
on
Indian
pitches,
Patel
said:
“Obviously
we
know
what
India
offers
in
terms
of
spin
bowling
but
at
the
same
time
we
know
the
challenges
of
facing
India
at
home
as
well.

“It’s
a
challenge
as
a
spinner
but
it’s
something
I’m
really
excited
about
and
thriving
on
so
I’m
looking
forward
to
it.”

Patel,
who
has
taken
26
wickets
in
nine
Tests
so
far
for
New
Zealand,
feels
the
SG
red
cherry
also
offers
different
challenges
for
overseas
bowlers.

“SG
ball
is
definitely
different,
quite
similar
to
the
Duke.
Quite
a
hard
ball
and
actually
I
am
finding
it
quite
nice
to
grip.
But
it
also
offers
different
challenges,
slightly
different
style
of
bowling,”
he
said.

“It’s
been
pretty
good
(preparation).
We
have
been
moving
around
a
lot
but
at
the
same
time
we
have
a
lot
of
time
to
train
and
get
used
to
the
conditions.
Hopefully,
we
have
got
enough
work
done.”

Patel
and
off-spinner
Will
Somerville
are
likely
to
lead
New
Zealand’s
spin
department
in
the
first
Test
in
India,
where
the
Kiwis
have
not
tasted
victory
since
1988.

“We
feed
off
each
other
quite
well,
he
offers
that
height
and
bounce
whereas
I
offer
that
low
skid,”
Patel
said
about
his
partnership
with
Sommerville
as
they
look
to
make
their
fourth
appearance
together.

“A
left-arm
spinner
and
a
right-arm
off-spinner
turning
it
in
different
ways
so
it’s
always
cool
to
be
playing
together.

“You
thrive
off
other
spinners
being
in
the
squad
and
playing
together
as
you
can
communicate
and
get
a
real
good
feel
for
what’s
happening
in
the
middle,”
he
said.

“There
WILL
be
times
when
he’s
attacking
or
I’m
attacking
so
we
have
a
good
understanding
now,
we’ve
played
a
few
games
together
so
it’s
exciting
to
have
the
opportunity
to
go
out
there
and
do
it
again.”