Stats: Ajaz Patel becomes 3rd bowler in history to take 10 wickets in a Test innings

Jim Laker and Anil Kumble, you have company as Ajaz Patel became the third bowler to take all 10 wickets in a Test innings. The New Zealand spinner achieved the feat in the second and final Test against India at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. While the other Kiwi bowlers couldn’t do much, Ajaz made the ball talk and scripted his name in history books.

Speaking of how the spinner went about his business, India won the toss in the crucial contest and opted to bat. They got off to a brilliant start with openers Mayank Agarwal and Shubman Gill adding 80 runs for the first wicket. However, things changed after Patel dismissed the latter for 44. The left-arm spinner managed to send Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli for ducks as the Kiwis were right back in the hunt.

In William Somerville and Rachin Ravindra, New Zealand have two more specialist spinners featuring in this game. However, none of the two looked effective. In fact, the duo also went for runs at times. Nonetheless, Ajaz didn’t put a foot wrong and constantly troubled Indian batters. He brilliantly exploited the Wankhede track, which witnessed a fair bit of rain on Day 1.

Interestingly, Mumbai is Patel’s birth city and the spinner didn’t miss out on making a mark. The spinner’s figure read 10/119 in 47.5 overs as India got bundled out for just 325 despite getting a stellar start. For the unversed, Indian opener Mayank Agarwal scored a brilliant ton on Day 1, due to which the hosts finished at 221/4 at stumps. While the Virat Kohli-led side was excepted to go past 350 on Day 2, Patel’s brilliance dented their plans. It must not be noted that Patel can enhance his tally even further in India’s second innings.

Best Figures in Test matches:

As mentioned above, Ajaz Patel joined Jim Laker and Anil Kumble in an elite list with his feat. Former England off-spinner Jim Laker was the first to take 10 wickets in a Test innings. He got the feat against Australia in Manchester, back in 1956. Former Indian leg-spinner Anil Kumble is the other one to get the feat. It was a 1999 Test match against Pakistan, where Kumble took all 10 wickets. It must be noted that Laker and Kumble got the landmark in a home Test. Hence, Patel is the first bowler to take 10 wickets in an innings of an away Test match.