Patel registered best-ever Test figures by a New Zealand bowler.
New Zealand left-arm spinner Ajaz Patel is over the moon and said that the stars were aligned for him to pick all 10 Test wickets at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai in a single innings in the ongoing second and final Test against India on Saturday (December 4).
Patel returned with record figures of 10/119 to help New Zealand restrict India to 325 in the first innings of the ongoing second Test against Team India at the Wankhede Stadium on Saturday.
His figures are the best-ever Test figures by a New Zealand bowler, as well as third-best figures in the Test history. He also became the first player to take 10 wickets in an innings away from home. The spinner also became the third bowler to take all 10 wickets in a Test innings on Saturday.
Ajaz told host broadcaster Star Sports: “Quite a special occasion for me and not just me but my family. Unfortunately for me, they're not here because of COVID. Honestly, it's surreal and to be able to do that in my career is pretty special. The stars have aligned for me to do it in Mumbai.”
He signed off by saying, “I'm in very illustrious company with Kumble sir as well. Obviously, not a great start for us, but we have a few boys in the shed and put on some runs.”
Notably, England's Jim Laker was the first cricketer to scalp 10 wickets in a Test innings in 1956 and then India's Anil Kumble became the second player to achieve the feat in 1999 against Pakistan.
(With ANI Inputs)