Jeetan Patel: 'If I had one message to young spinners it would be this: bowl and bowl and bowl'

The New Zealand and Warwickshire offspinner looks back at his successful first-class career as he prepares to move into its next phase: coaching

VLive Sports DeskSyndicated Wire Coverage (ESPNcricinfo / Sports Feeds)

Jun 6, 2020, 6:19 AM

Patel has taken 643 first-class wickets since 2012, the most for any bowlerGetty Images

Match at a Glance & Key Facts

Player in Focus

Jeetan Patel

bowler

KEY TAKEAWAYSQuick highlights & editorial summary

VLive Sports Desk

Editorial Angle:Analysis of Jeetan Patel: 'If I had one message to young spinners it would be this: bowl and bowl and bowl': New Zealand and Warwickshire offspinner looks back at his successful first-class career as he prepares to move into its next phase: coaching — assessing tactical impact and tournament progression.
Performance Milestone:As Patel comes towards the end of a professional playing career that started in the previous century it's probably worth examining why he has enjoyed a level of success of which most spinners could only dream.
Tactical Context:Captains have to learn how to use spinners.

Under normal circumstances, we would be two months into the English domestic season by now. And while you might expect the seamers to have dominated, you can be pretty sure that two offspinners - Essex's Simon Harmer and Warwickshire's Jeetan Patel - would have been up there among the top wicket-takers.

Patel's long-term record, in particular, is extraordinary. At a time when spin bowling, in England at least, has probably never been harder, he has consistently ranked among the top wicket-takers. Nobody in the world has taken as many first-class wickets since the start of 2012. Nobody has taken as many in the Championship, either. Only once since the 2012 season has he failed to claim 50 first-class wickets in a season (and even then he still claimed 41 at an average under 30).

During his time with Warwickshire over the last eight years, Patel has claimed 450 first-class wickets. The next highest total among spinners is Simon Kerrigan (who last played in 2017) with 245.