Jeetan Patel included in the NZ squad for the third ODI against Bangladesh

New Zealand off-spinner Jeetan Patel has been selected in New Zealand’s squad for the third One-Day International (ODI) against Bangladesh set to be played at the Saxton Oval. New Zealand coach Mike Hesson said Patel’s was a horses-for-courses selection most likely due to the sluggish nature of the wicket and the presence of three-handers in the team. His inclusion also adds more teeth to the batting order given his handy batting capabilities.

Patel has been off the selector’s radar for a long time and last played an ODI during the Champions Trophy final at the Supersport Park in 2009 and made his Test comeback recently after three years against India during India.

New Zealand’s captain Kane Williamson also had admitted that Patel was not at all in the scheme of things at the start of the season, but ended being the best option after regular off-break bowler Mark Craig suffered a side strain in India in September 2016. Patel, who has 42 wickets in 39 ODIs, 58 in 21 Tests and 16 in 11 Twenty20 Internationals, has picked up six scalps in eight matches of the ongoing SuperSmash.

Playing in the two Tests – in Indore and Kolkata – he bagged six wickets in total and also scored a handy 47 lower down the order when the rest of the batting line-up had failed. He followed that up with good performances in the Plunkett Shield matches, where he took 11 wickets in three games.

So far, he has taken six wickets in eight games in the ongoing Super Smash at an economy rate of 7.51.

“He has been bowling very well for the Wellington Firebirds in the McDonald’s Super Smash and will be a welcome addition to the squad,” Hesson said.

Patel, who will join the team on Friday, will be the second front-line spinner in the squad alongside Mitchell Santner. New Zealand has already pocketed the three-match ODI series with a 67-run victory today in the second ODI.