Yorkshire have acquired the services of New Zealand left-arm spinner Ajaz Patel for their final two County Championship matches of the season, the county announced on Wednesday, September 4.
Patel, 30, debuted for New Zealand last year, has been drafted in by Yorkshire to fill the void left by South Africa left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj, whose short-term deal with the club ended last month. The team is already reeling from the absence of Adil Rashid and Josh Posyden, both of whom are unavailable for the rest of the season with shoulder and head injuries respectively.
“It’s exciting and Yorkshire are in with a chance of winning another County Championship,” Ajaz told Yorkshire CCC. “I’m coming for two games, and hope to contribute as much as I can, and to try to do as much as I can, to help Yorkshire into the best position to be able to win the competition as they approach the end of the season.”
BREAKING: Yorkshire have secured the services of Ajaz Patel for the final two Specsavers County Championship fixtures of the season.#OneRose
— Yorkshire Vikings (@YorkshireCCC) September 4, 2019
Patel was part of New Zealand’s drawn Test series against Sri Lanka, picking up nine wickets in two matches, including a five-wicket haul in the first game at Galle. He is expected to join the county on September 12.
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“I came over to play at Cranleigh CC this winter, hopefully with the opportunity to pick up some county cricket while I was over here,” Patel said. “But I obviously got called into the New Zealand squad for the Sri Lanka Tests while I was over there. It all happened pretty quickly from there, I got the call and jumped at the opportunity really.
“I’ve got a lot of overs under my belt, which is great for a spinner. I’ve had a good tour of Sri Lanka, where I was quite successful in their conditions. Confidence-wise I’m feeling good, and the ball is coming out really nicely. It’s about adapting to the conditions presented in the UK.”
