Jeetan Patel added to New Zealand squad for third ODI
The offspinner, who last played an ODI in 2009, will be the second front-line spinner in the squad alongside Mitchell Santner
ESPNcricinfo staff
29-Dec-2016
Jeetan Patel last played an ODI in 2009 • Getty Images
New Zealand offspinner Jeetan Patel has been added to the squad for the third ODI against Bangladesh in Nelson on Saturday. Keeping in view the sluggish nature of the Saxton Oval track and the presence of three left-handers in Bangladesh's top five, New Zealand coach Mike Hesson said Patel's was a horses-for-courses selection.
Patel last played an ODI in 2009 - the Champions Trophy final at the Supersport Park.
New Zealand's captain Kane Williamson had admitted that Patel was not on the radar of the selectors at the start of the season, but a side strain to Mark Craig in India in September 2016 paved the way for Patel's Test comeback after more than three years. He claimed six wickets in two matches and found the optimum pace at Eden Gardens. In the same Test, he made a run-a-ball 47 to haul the team past 200.
Right after the Indore Test, Patel took a match haul of seven wickets in Wellington's six-wicket win over Auckland in the Plunkett Shield. He followed it with 11 wickets in the next three Plunkett Shield matches.
So far, he has taken six wickets in eight games in the ongoing Super Smash at an economy rate of 7.51.
"He has been bowling very well for the Wellington Firebirds in the McDonald's Super Smash and will be a welcome addition to the squad," Hesson said.
Patel, who will join the team on Friday, will be the second front-line spinner in the squad alongside Mitchell Santner. New Zealand have already wrapped up the three-ODI series with a 67-run victory on Thursday.