New Zealand spinner cites key reason behind historic win in India

Having been a major architect in New Zealand becoming the first touring side to best India 3-0 in a Test series at home, left-arm spinner Ajaz Patel ascribed his team’s preparation for the different kinds of surfaces in India as a major factor for the historic win.

Ajaz, who notched 11 wickets across the two innings of the Mumbai Test, shed light on the Kiwis’ preparation back home ahead of the India tour.

"We had a great winter back home where we prepared on turning wickets and we made sure we had different surfaces that we tried and practiced on so we were, I guess, conditioned to bowling on different surfaces as well,” Ajaz said.

The 36-year-old went on to talk about the nature of the three pitches used across the Test series in Bangalore, Pune and Mumbai, and how well New Zealand adapted to them.

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"It's been three different surfaces and three different games, and we’re well aware that one of the challenges of going to Asia is that the conditions are going to change all the time and you have to be adaptable and even within the game the conditions change very quickly.

“I mean even in this Mumbai Test, I was bowling in the first innings and I felt like I was bowling really well, but the wicket wasn't really turning and then (when) I came back after Lunch, all of a sudden everything started happening.”

Ajaz marked a memorable comeback to the Wankhede Stadium, the venue where he had joined the exclusive club of bowlers who have claimed all 10 wickets in a Test innings - after Jim Laker and Anil Kumble - against India back in 2021.

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Elaborating on the challenges of spin bowling, Ajaz said, “When you come to the subcontinent it's about having that skill set and that range of being able to…whether it be bowling in the high 90s or in the low 80s, and being adaptable in those ranges from the outset.

“It's also reading the surface quickly because the conditions, like I say, do change at a constant (rate). Sometimes the conditions in the morning can be very different to the conditions in that middle session, and so as a spinner it's about knowing how to get the most out of that. How to change your pace, how to go up and down while still having the ball shape."

New Zealand’s series triumph in India came on the back of a 2-0 clean sweep on their tour of Sri Lanka back in September.

Despite the contrasting results, Ajaz believes New Zealand played similar cricket, but had better luck when it came to the flip of the coin - terming it a decisive factor in the subcontinent.

"From Sri Lanka to here, I don't think we were too much different. I think we played some really good cricket in Sri Lanka, but unfortunately (lost the series). When you come to the subcontinent, the toss is so important and bowling in the last innings in comparison to bowling in the third innings, especially on a turning wicket, can sometimes be the difference as spinners.

"While the results didn't go our way in Sri Lanka, I don't feel like we played too poorly or anything like that. Even from a batting department, we still put runs on the board. It was just a matter of, you know, having a bit of luck our way as well in the series."