Ajaz Patel, on the second day of the ongoing test match between India and New Zealand, became only the third bowler in test match history to grab all 10 wickets of the opposition in a single innings. Two bowlers who did it before him were both spinners. While the Englishman Jim Laker did it in 1956 against Australia at Old Trafford, the former Indian captain and coach Anil Kumble did it in 1999 against the arch-rivals Pakistan at Feroz Shah Kotla stadium in Delhi.
When Ajaz Patel marked his run-up to bowl his first over on day 2 in the Mumbai test match today, he wouldn’t have expected in his wildest of dreams that he would clean up all the remaining 6 Indian wickets and would become a part of the history books. While Ajaz was simply superb with his craft, the Indian tail-enders also helped him with their attempt to play some big shots towards the end of the innings.
After Axar Patel’s dismissal, which was the 8th wicket of Ajaz, the off-spinner Jayant Yadav tried to play a big shot off Ajaz and was caught by Rachin Ravindra at the long-off boundary and then surprisingly, Mohammed Siraj, rather than trying to play out that Ajaz over safely, went for a big shot twice. While he was lucky the first time, his luck ran out on the second occasion as the ball ballooned up in the air to be held by Rachin Ravindra at mid-on again.
Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin also came out to give a standing ovation to Ajaz Patel
Given how rare and how remarkable an achievement it was for Ajaz, not only the New Zealand team and the support staff, but even the Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin came out to give Ajaz Patel a standing ovation, as he returned to the New Zealand dressing room.
Whatever shape Ajaz Patel’s test career might take from here and regardless if he will be able to play many more test matches for Blackcaps from here or not, one thing is for sure that he will be remembered in test match history forever because he has now gotten into the most elite club of the longest format of the game.
Twitter users also realized how big an achievement it was for an overseas spinner, who was born in India itself, to come back to India and do something that has been done only twice in test match history. Here is how Twitter reacted after Ajaz Patel completed his 10-wicket haul –
10 wickets in an innings, wow, wow, wow! Only the third time in Test history. Now stands alongside Jim Laker and Anil Kumble. Take a bow Ajaz Patel!
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) December 4, 2021
Incredible achievement as Ajaz Patel picks up all 10 wickets in the 1st innings of the 2nd Test.
He becomes the third bowler in the history of Test cricket to achieve this feat.#INDvNZ @Paytm pic.twitter.com/5iOsMVEuWq
— BCCI (@BCCI) December 4, 2021
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Ajaz Patel all 10 wickets! Insane! Brilliant! That is a ripper achievement!! 👏🏼🔥 #INDvNZ
— Chloe-Amanda Bailey (@ChloeAmandaB) December 4, 2021
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Make that 10 fa Ajaz Patel ! Wow 😮
— Brett Lee (@BrettLee_58) December 4, 2021
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Jim Laker: 10-53
Anil Kumble: 10-74
Ajaz Patel: 10-119The only 3 in the history of test cricket with a 10-fer in an innings.
AdvertisementBorn in Mumbai, emigrated to Mumbai at 8. Comes back to Mumbai 33 & takes all 10. Take a bow, Ajaz Patel. Special special spell. Too good! pic.twitter.com/DERtWQn0Nl
— Srini Mama (@SriniMaama16) December 4, 2021
Ajaz Patel Mumbai born picks up record breaking 10 wickets in an innings in his born city. What a fantastic feat, only the 3rd to achieve this.
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) December 4, 2021
Please don’t let any Indian go to any other country, best don’t even ask them. Dus ka dum 😳 #AjazPatel
— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) December 4, 2021
Incredible achievement from Ajaz Patel. He raises the ball and leads his side off the field. 10 for 119 in 47.5 overs.pic.twitter.com/FV3Z6j5whD
— Sai krishna V (@intentmerchants) December 4, 2021
Wow Ajaz Patel, so proud of you buddy 👏👏👏
— Mike Hesson (@CoachHesson) December 4, 2021
One of the toughest things to do in the game of cricket. To have an entire team in your kitty in an innings is too good to be true. Simply unreal. Well done young man – Ajaz Patel #INDvzNZ #AjazPatel pic.twitter.com/M81eUeSrX4
— Ravi Shastri (@RaviShastriOfc) December 4, 2021
