Ajaz Patel rocks cricket world with 10-wicket test haul

The left-arm spinner dismisses India in the first innings of the second test in Mumbai – only for Black Caps to collapse, to be all out for 62. By Andrew Voerman.

The great and good of world cricket were last night paying tribute to Black Caps spinner Ajaz Patel who rattled through all 10 Indian wickets for a history-making haul.

Patel was dreaming of big things as he returned to Mumbai, the city where he was born, to play a test against India, but he would never have imagined this.

The left-arm spinner’s first innings feat was just the third time that feat has been achieved in the 144-year history of test cricket and the first in the first innings of a test.

Jim Laker, for England against Australia in Manchester in 1956, and Anil Kumble, for India against Pakistan in Delhi in 1999, were the only bowlers to have previously managed it. Laker took 10-53 while Kumble took 10-74.

Kumble immediately tweeted ‘‘Welcome to the club #AjazPatel #Perfect10 Well bowled! A special effort to achieve it on Day1&2 of a test match’’.

And it was only just beginning to sink in for Patel when he fronted the Star Sports broadcast at the tea break, saying it was ‘‘obviously quite a special occasion for me, but not only me, my wife, my mum and dad, and my family. It’s a very special day for me, for sure’’.

‘‘To be honest it’s pretty surreal,’’ he added. ‘‘I don’t think you ever believe that you’re going to achieve something like that, so to be able to do it in my career is pretty special.

‘‘By the grace of God, I think I’m very fortunate. I guess the stars have aligned for me to have an occasion like that here in Mumbai. To be born here then to come back here and achieve something like that is pretty special.’’

Indian great VVS Laxman said Patel had achieved something every bowler dreams of doing.

‘‘Sensational! Just sensational!!’’ Laxman wrote. ‘‘To take all 10 wickets in a Test innings is the stuff dreams are made of. Take a bow, Ajaz Patel, you are in the elite company of Jim Laker and Anil kumble. And to do it in the city of your birth, wow!!’’

Back in New Zealand, those who had been part of Patel’s cricket schooling were also quick to sing his praises.

Patel’s mentor and coach Barrington Rowland said Patel’s performance was ‘‘a very proud moment for us . . . This is exceeding everyone’s expectations’’.

Rowland said it was ‘‘an honour’’ to be part of Patel’s life journey.

‘‘He’s such a friendly soul and a lovely person.

‘‘We’re all so proud of him. ‘‘It’s a big moment, because he’s from Mumbai. Someone who’s gone to another country, learnt his craft … and to go back to his old city and actually perform and create a piece of history is unbelievable.’’

Former Black Caps spinner Dipak Patel, who’s also been part of the record-breaker’s growth in the game, said he was ‘‘lost for words’’. ‘‘It’s hard to fathom. He’s worked so bloody hard over the years, I feel very proud of him. It will mean a hell of lot for him, especially for his parents in Auckland. It’s one of our greatest of all time. To take all 10, I hope people put all that into perspective, and realise what an amazing achievement it is.’’

Ajaz Patel took 10-119 at Wankhede Stadium as India were dismissed for 325 after winning the toss and choosing to bat – the best test figures by any New Zealander.

Sir Richard Hadlee’s old mark of 9-52, against Australia at The Gabba in Brisbane in 1985, had stood unchallenged for 36 years.

No-one had ever taken eight until Patel got there shortly after lunch.

In Brisbane all those years ago, Vaughan Brown took the ninth wicket, with Hadlee taking the catch before finishing the job himself.

In Mumbai, Patel got his ninth when Rachin Ravindra took a catch at long-off as Jayant Yadav holed out for 12. His 10th followed just three balls later, when Mohammed Siraj gave Ravindra, now at mid-on, another, on four.

Patel had finished the first day with 4-73 from 29 overs and said his return to the city he left in 1996 – but has visited many times since – was ‘‘what dreams are made of’’.

He also said the job was ‘‘only half done,’’ but no-one would have been expecting him to do the other half – and then some – by himself.

Two wickets came during his first over of the day as he secured his third five-wicket bag in tests.

Wriddhiman Saha was out LBW for 27 to Patel’s fourth ball of the day, while Ravichandran Ashwin followed for a golden duck off the next, clean bowled.

Mayank Agarwal was finally out in Patel’s first over after lunch, caught behind the ball after he reached 150, giving the spinner his seventh wicket.

Patel missed an early chance for his eighth when he failed to review an LBW shout against Jayant.

But it was a successful review that got him there in the end, against left-hander Axar Patel, who was struck on the inside of his leg while trying to pad a ball away outside off stump and was sent on his way for 52.

At that point, he’d become the second New Zealander to take eight wickets, after Hadlee, and he had the best figures by any spinner.

It wasn’t long before he had the best figures of them all when he dismissed Siraj — 47.5-12-119-10 — and a performance in his home town he’ll never forget.

Unforgettable, though, would be the best description of New Zealand’s first innings as the batsmen failed to get to grips with the pace of Mohammed Siraj and the wicket’s wicked turn.

Only Tom Latham and Kyle Jamieson reached double figures as the Black Caps were all out for 62 in just 28.1 overs.

Patel was back out to bat just 2hr 35 mins after he took the 10th wicket – but when Jamieson was dismissed almost immediately he was back in the pavilion.