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'I was a little bit surprised': Ajaz Patel ready to cash in on Blackcaps recall
Sport Nation •  December 16th, 2025 1:57 pm
Ajaz Patel | Photo: Photosport
Even Ajaz Patel himself admits he was taken aback when he received the call to join the Blackcaps in Tauranga this week.
The spinner hasn't featured for New Zealand since his heroics in India last year, where he helped secure the Blackcaps' historic Test series triumph.
If selected to play against the West Indies in their final match of the tour, starting Thursday, it will be his first appearance on home soil since February 2020.Â
Patel has played just three of his 21 Tests on New Zealand soil and not one of his 85 wickets have been taken here.
"Initially I was a little bit surprised, but at the same time I was pretty excited," Patekl told Sport Nation Mornings.Â
"It's been an interesting rollercoaster of emotions. There's been times where I've been nervous, there's been times where I've been excited, there's been times where I've kind of gone, 'what's happening?'Â
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"But it's always awesome to come back into the Test squad and have an opportunity to play another Test in New Zealand. I guess it makes it more special, getting an opportunity to do it again at home, and the Mount is probably the ideal place as a spinner, to be fair."
Patel is part of a 14-strong squad for the tour finale, with the hosts out to secure the three-match series they currently lead 1-0 after their demolition of the Windies in Wellington.
The 37-year-old hopes there'll be a certain element of surprise to capitalise on against the tourists' batting line-up.
"They're trying to adjust and adapt to our conditions but also, from a spin bowling perspective, the great thing for me is a lot of the footage that they have probably of me turning it on big massive rags in Asia.Â
"They won't have been able to see the other stuff that I can do, and hopefully that stuff is what's obviously going to work in New Zealand."
Listen to the full interview below:
