(Our Bureau, June 15) Meet Ajaz Yunus Patel the Indian-origin spinner who has emerged as New Zealand cricket team’s unlikely hero. Ajaz was responsible for taking four wickets across two Tests against England and finished that series on a high at Edgbaston last week. His impressive performance has earned him a spot on the team for their upcoming ICC World Test Championship against India. Born in Mumbai, Ajaz moved to New Zealand with his family in 1996 where he made his debut for Central Districts in 2012 as a fast bowler. Soon after, he decided to experiment with spin and there has been no looking back ever since. According to ESPN Cricinfo, his rise to international cricket is built on repeated success at the domestic level. He was the highest wicket-taker in first-class cricket for three years before he made it to the national team in 2018.
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