The New Zealand Cricket community is being encouraged to rally behind rather than castigate a tormented Jeetan Patel in the wake of his boozy night during the recent New Zealand XI v England warm-up match in Queenstown.
Patel headed out with his friend Daniel Vettori. He suffered mild concussion when he fell over and hit his head during the evening when alcohol was drunk.
The pair have become close and the former New Zealand captain was offering his support during what has been a tough period for Patel.
He has been widely panned for backing away from pace bowling and bowled ineffectively during the South African series. On arriving home from the tour, he learned his mother had become unwell while holidaying in India. Within 24 hours Patel and his father flew to see her but she died of an aneurysm.
The Herald understands Patel has since been trying to help his father with the family Lotto shop in Wellington.