Ajaz Patel’s performance is better than Anil Kumble and Jim Laker’s: Dipak Patel

Former New Zealand cricketer Dipak Patel rated Ajaz Patel’s 10-wicket haul higher than that of Anil Kumble and Jim Laker. In the Black Caps’ second Test against India at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, Patel became the third bowler to accomplish the milestone, although his heroics couldn’t save the Kiwis from the 372-run thrashing at the hands of the home team.

Dipak Patel, one of New Zealand’s prolific spinners during his heydays, said that Ajaz stood out among the three simply because he got the wickets in the first innings. Ajaz Patel finished with stupendous figures of 47.5-12-119-10.

Ajaz Patel’s performance was amazing, says Dipak Patel

“Both Anil Kumble and Jim Laker took all ten wickets in the second innings (home Tests), whereas Ajaz’s journey of ten wickets began from the first day (away Test match) itself. I, therefore, reckon Ajaz’s performance is better,” Dipak Patel was quoted as saying to BDcrictime on Sunday morning.

“It is very very difficult for a bowler to take all ten wickets and that too by a spinner is not easy,” he stated.

Dipak Patel, who picked up 120 wickets from 37 Tests and 75 ODIs, praised Ajaz for bamboozling the Indian batters, who are historically known as efficient players of spin. The veteran also praised the left-armer for working hard and scaling greater heights.

“Ajaz’s performance was superb and that too against the Indian batsmen. The fact is Indian batsmen play spinners well and therefore Ajaz’s performance was amazing,” Patel quipped

“He got to play his first Test only three years ago but since then he has been taking wickets. He has really worked very hard and the result is there for all to watch,” he added.

After the incredible performance, the Mumbai Cricket Association felicitated him with the scorecard of the second Test. Former New Zealand cricketer Richard Hadlee also showered praises on him. On Saturday, Patel expressed gratitude for being able to get to the milestone.

Recently, he also got his Twitter account verified after Indian spinner Ravi Ashwin asked the microblogging site for the same. Ajaz was the leading wicket-taker of the series with 17 scalps from two matches at an economy rate of 3.12.