Jeetan Patel

Patel is living proof that there's still room in the game for spinners who go under the bat, rather than past or over.

Date of Birth: May 7, 1980, Wellington  Test Debut: Against  ODI Debut: Against   Bats: Right Hand Bat  Other: Right-arm offbreak

Jeetan Patel is living proof that there's still room in the game for spin-bowlers who go under the bat, rather than past or over.

The Wellington off-spinner has been included in the squad on account of his ability to take air out of the ball.He has the ability to remove pace and bounce from the ball, factors that were now considered invaluable in the ever-changing one-day game.

Patel has hardly been a stand-out for Wellington over the years, and his selection last month was as much a concession to New Zealand's spin-bowling dearth, as a vote of faith. He took 26 wickets at 32.84 in last summer's four-day campaign; 11 at 35.18 in the one-dayers, and looked impressive in the North v South match at Pukekohe, where he snared two for 31. Patel has played just 19 domestic one-day games, taking a total of 19 wickets at 37.00, at an economy rate of 4.53.