Ajaz Patel Excited to Learn from Rangana Herath Ahead of Afghanistan Test Match in Greater Noida
New Zealand cricketer Ajaz Patel recently shared his admiration for former Sri Lankan spinner Rangana Herath, who has been appointed as New Zealand’s spin bowling coach for Test matches. Patel expressed his excitement about learning from Herath, whom he has long admired.
Patel said, “If you look at me and look at Rangana, we are quite similar in terms of our build and body type. When I was developing my spin, I watched him with a lot of admiration, so it is really special to have him here. For me, it is a great opportunity to spend some time with him and really understand how he crafts his spin bowling. Obviously, he was very successful and a phenomenal bowler, so it is a great opportunity for me to learn from him.”
Reflecting on his previous experiences in India, Patel acknowledged the different challenges he faces this time around. He said, “Yeah, I guess it is always special to come back to India, especially after my last game here. It is a different challenge now, different surface, different place, and different opposition. So it is about looking at what is in front of us, assessing what the wicket is doing, and then coming up with a game plan.”
Patel also spoke about the upcoming series against Afghanistan, recognizing their potential and resilience. He noted, “We know Afghanistan are a quality outfit. Obviously, they don’t have that much experience, but certainly, they will put up a good fight. They will certainly grow from every experience that they get and have.”
Ajaz Patel has played 16 Test matches and taken 62 wickets. He is the third cricketer to take 10 wickets in an innings. The New Zealand team, including captain Tim Southee, star batter Kane Williamson, and vice-captain Tom Latham, arrived in Greater Noida for the one-off Test match against Afghanistan, scheduled from September 9 to 13 at the Greater Noida Sports Complex Ground.
Doubts Revealed
Ajaz Patel -: Ajaz Patel is a cricketer from New Zealand who plays as a spin bowler. Spin bowlers are players who make the ball spin when they bowl it, making it harder for the batsman to hit.
Rangana Herath -: Rangana Herath is a former cricketer from Sri Lanka who was very good at spin bowling. Now, he helps other cricketers learn how to bowl better as a coach.
Afghanistan Test Match -: A Test match is a long cricket game that can last up to five days. In this match, New Zealand will play against the Afghanistan cricket team.
Greater Noida -: Greater Noida is a city in India, near Delhi. It has a big cricket stadium where the match will be played.
Tim Southee -: Tim Southee is the captain of the New Zealand cricket team. The captain is the leader of the team and makes important decisions during the game.
Kane Williamson -: Kane Williamson is a famous cricketer from New Zealand known for being a very good batter. A batter is a player who tries to hit the ball to score runs.
