India-born New Zealand cricketer Ajaz Patel on Monday gained the ICC Player of the Month award for December following his stupendous 10-wicket haul towards Virat Kohli and Co. within the second Test in Mumbai.
The left-arm spinner was nominated for the award alongside India opener Mayank Agarwal and Australian pacer Mitchell Starc however beat them to it on the again of his extremely uncommon feat.
Ajaz picked up 14 wickets within the Mumbai Test match in early December towards India, together with all 10 within the first innings, to change into solely the third participant in Test historical past, after Jim Laker and Anil Kumble, to attain the outstanding milestone.
The Mumbai-born Ajaz made a fairy story comeback to his metropolis of beginning in his first-ever tour of India with the Test staff.
Ajaz ended the primary day of the Test with all 4 Indian wickets to fall underneath his title and made an impression on the primary session the next day with wickets off back-to-back deliveries.
While he was denied a hat-trick, Ajaz went on to take all 10 wickets within the innings, prompting applause from even the opposition camp.
“Personally I think one of the greatest cricketing days in my life. And it will probably always be,” Ajaz had mentioned on the conclusion of the Test match.
JP Duminy, a Member of ICC Voting Academy for December, hailed the achievement.
“What a historic achievement! Taking 10 wickets in an innings is a feat that needs to be celebrated. There’s no doubt that Ajaz’s performance is a milestone that will be remembered for years to come,” the South African cricketer mentioned.
