Black Caps spinner Ajaz Patel is looking to cement his status as New Zealand's go-to Test match tweaker, today confirmed as one of three new faces in New Zealand Cricket's contracted player list.
Patel, 31, along with rookie sensation Kyle Jamieson and uncapped Devon Conway, are the three new additions to the 20-strong list, while Jeet Raval, Colin Munro and Todd Astle make way.
Born in India and moving to New Zealand in the mid '90s, Patel's status as a long-form specialist has seen him regularly top the Plunket Shield wicket takers list for Central Districts, earning himself a Test debut in 2018.
What's more, Patel's domestic success has come on the traditionally seam-friendly conditions that New Zealand wickets offer.
The inconsistency of the likes of Mitchell Santner and Ish Sodhi, coupled with Astle's retirement from red ball cricket and Will Somerville being 35 years of age has seen Patel finish last season as the Black Caps' Test spinner.
In his eight Tests so far, Patel has taken 22 wickets at an average of just over 33, including two five wicket hauls away to Pakistan and Sri Lanka respectively.
Speaking to 1 NEWS after his confirmation as a contracted player today, Patel revealed what the decision means to him.
"It was quite special, actually," Patel said.
"It was quite a nostalgic feeling. Being an immigrant kid growing up in New Zealand, and aspiring to play for New Zealand, and to actually be standing here in a position to now be able to say I've been offered a contract for New Zealand, it is quite special, quite amazing and quite surreal to be honest."
While the lure of white ball cricket is strong for most players across the world in modern times, Patel is content with his role as a Test specialist.
The left-armer is content in his desire to win Test matches for his adopted country.
"I suppose as a spinner, your role varies a lot throughout the five days of a Test match, between the first innings and the second, between the subcontinent and New Zealand conditions.
"You have to be adaptable. That's what makes the world-class spinners really good.
"They're able to adapt to certain conditions, certain scenarios in the game almost immediately, and challenge batters in that respect as well."
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