New Zealand spinner Ajaz Patel won the ICC Player of the Month Award for December 2021, thanks to his historic feat of picking all ten wickets in an innings against India in the Mumbai Test last year. Patel beat out the competition from Mayank Agarwal of India and Mitchell Starc from Australia.

Patel, who was born in Mumbai, made history in his hometown as he bowled out the Indian team single-handedly in the first innings of the second Test between India and New Zealand in Mumbai in December 2021.

By doing so, he became just the third bowler in Test cricket to pick all ten wickets to fall in an innings, a feat previously achieved by England’s Jim Laker against Australia in 1956 and India’s Anil Kumble against Pakistan in 1999.

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In all, Ajaz picked 14 wickets including 10/119 but ended up on the losing side, as India after making 325 in the first innings, bowled Kiwis out for 62 runs. Mayank Agarwal made 150 for the home side. In the second innings, India made 276/7d and set New Zealand a target of 540 runs to win.

But the Blackcaps batting failed again, as they crumbled to 167 all out and lost the Test by 372 runs and the series 0-1.

"Personally I think one of the greatest cricketing days in my life. And it will probably always be," Ajaz said at the conclusion of the Test match.

JP Duminy, a Member of ICC Voting Academy for December, hailed the achievement. “What a historic achievement! Taking 10 wickets in an innings is a feat that needs to be celebrated. There’s no doubt that Ajaz performance is a milestone that will be remembered for years to come.”

(ICC inputs)