Australian left-arm spinner Ashton Agar lauded Indian spinner, Akshar Patel, for his bowling in the third Test match between India and England and said that he loved watching Patel bowl.

Akshar Patel’s rise in Test cricket has been exceptional. Debuting for Team India in the second Test match against England at Chennai, the left-arm spinner had a memorable Test debut as he became the 9th Indian player to take a five-wicket haul on Test debut and returned with the match figures of 7/100. 

Keeping up his good form Akshar Patel in the third Test match, which was also a day and night affair, set the stage on fire as he picked fifers in both innings of the Test to route England for 112 and 81, and helped Team India win the match by 10 wickets.

Even though the pitch in the third Test match was criticized by many pundits, Patel’s bowling was lauded by the entire cricket fraternity as he returned with the match figures of 11/70.

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Weighing on Akshar Patel’s bowling in the pink-ball Test, Australian left-arm spinner Ashton Agar admitted that he loved watching Patel bowl and added that the former used the shiny part of the ball well to bowl straighter ones which turned out to be the most lethal deliveries.

"Have loved watching Akshar Patel bowl. There was an article recently that spoke a lot about how he was able to just hit the shiny side of the ball and get a few to go straight and often they are the most lethal ones because you are expecting them to turn so much. He would have got maybe 10 of his wickets in the last couple of Tests with straight balls," Ashton Agar told Sydney Morning Herald.

The four-match Test series between India and England stands level at 2-1. The remaining Test match would be crucial for Virat Kohli-led Team India as they have to win or draw the last Test match to qualify for the final of the inaugural edition of the ICC World Test championship. 

(ANI inputs)