It seemed like Jeetan Patel would never stop bowling during a New Zealand practice session at the Wankhede Stadium.
The 26-year-old New Zealand offspinner has oodles of energy, and a bright future
MUMBAI: It seemed like Jeetan Patel would never stop bowling during a New Zealand practice session at the Wankhede Stadium on Wednesday. He was sweating it out in the company of youngsters who were only too happy to share the same 22 yards with New Zealand Test players. A short break later, Jeetan, 26, padded up and was off to the nets across the outfield, where coach John Bracewell was waiting. Jeetan was now involved in a batting drill. A good while later he packs up for the day.
“He is not easily satisfied and has a tremendous work ethic. He will always keep working, working until he falls over. I have to try and control that. That is not a complaint though,” coach Bracewell said. “It is great to have a guy on tour who you have to stop from working rather than start working.”
Patel and off spin are synonymous with New Zealand cricket. Martin Crowe famously asked off-spinner Dipak Patel to open the bowling during the 1992 World Cup.
Was Dipak an influence? Jeetan replies: “Visually he had a lot of impact. I am not quite sure, because when I started bowling I was not really sure how far I was going to go. I think the impulse was seeing Daniel (Vettori) make it early, when he was 19, which was when I was starting to play first class cricket. That’s when you think there is a possibility of playing cricket for New Zealand,” Jeetan said.
Having Bracewell, a former off-spinner who played 41 Tests for New Zealand does help, according to Jeetan. “Having John Bracewell as a coach is just such a confidence-builder. He sees things I wouldn’t see otherwise. A lot of things John and I do are on-field stuff, trying to out-think batsmen,” Jeetan said.
The coach has a long-term plan for Jeetan, who has played a Test and 10 one-dayers. “We always had the World Cup in mind with Jeetan, making sure we had two spinners available for that event. This is another opportunity for Dan (Vettori) and Jeetan to gain experience together. Dan has a history with his back so it was important to make sure we have an option when Dan is unavailable,” Bracewell said.
Incidentally this is not Jeetan’s first cricket tour of India. He was part of the New Zealand A squad that participated in the Buchi Babu a few seasons ago.
“My parents are obviously Indian, from Gujarat, and I have got a lot of Indian heritage and background and lot of my friends are Indian. I quite enjoy going back there when I get a chance. It’s been quite hectic for me to do that over the last six years. Dad actually moved to England and then to New Zealand, where I was born,” Jeetan said. “I can speak a bit of Gujarati, but I try not to, I don’t want to embarrass myself.”
Bracewell endorses a bright future for the 26-year-old of Indian origin. “He has bowled beautifully for us, he is a good learner. Jeetan has taken every opportunity that he has been given. I think he has good instinct.”
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