Cricket: Patel picked with eye to the future

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 it.

In the best traditions of the Eddie Hemmingses and Jeremy Snapes of this world, the Wellington off-spinner has been included in the one-day team for Zimbabwe on account of his ability to take air out of the ball.

New Zealand coach John Bracewell said the 25-year-old Patel appeared to have the ability to remove pace and bounce from the ball, factors that were now considered invaluable in the ever-changing one-day game.

His interest in Patel was initially pricked because of the flat and slow pitches expected for the 2007 World Cup in the West Indies, and later by the changes brought about by the experimental powerplay rules.

Under the new plan, fielding teams now have 20 overs of fielding restrictions, but have the choice of when to use the last 10, in blocks of five overs apiece.

"Jeetan has showed that he can bowl very effectively nearer the end of a one-day innings, and that could have spin-offs for us in the new environment of powerplays," Bracewell said. "Things are evolving quickly now and I think it's crucial that we have two ODI spinners available to cover various possibilities.

"Having someone who can make the ball squat and keep low is a huge asset in the one-day game, because it makes it difficult for batsmen, and especially those new to the crease, to get on with it."

For all that, Bracewell also had an eye on the 2007 World Cup, which will be played on wickets that traditionally offer little respite for neither pace nor swing bowling merchants.

He said that when deciding to include Patel in the squad he was mindful that spin bowlers like Snape and West Indian batting all-rounder Chris Gayle had previously proved effective on slow and low pitches.

Zimbabwe is almost certain to offer similar conditions, allowing Bracewell to study Patel's performance and gauge his future potential. "It's no secret that I want an experienced team at the World Cup, and this is a good chance to gain more information, and to give more players the chance to present their case."

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.

"I still have serious concerns about the depth of our spin-bowling reserves, just as I do about the impact of captaincy on the development of spinners," Bracewell said.

"The problem is that in New Zealand, four-day domestic games tend to just run their course; they aren't won or lost, they simply expire. There's very little strategy involved and as a result the spin-bowlers tend to suffer.

"Spinners were used far more tactically in the days of three-day cricket, not that I'm proposing we return to that. But I'm sure spinners were responsible for winning more three-dayers than four-dayers."

Bracewell said that if New Zealand wanted to "grow" their spin-bowling depth, there was a need to educate domestic captains so the spinners were used more effectively, and with more understanding.

"At the moment, the temptation is to just persevere with the stock medium-pacers, because the respective skippers know that over four days that will suffice.

"But that doesn't translate to international level, where the need to have quality spinners is critical."

* ZIMBABWE TOUR

August 7-11: First test, Bulawayo

August 15-19: Second test, Bulawayo

One-day series
July 24: v Zimbabwe, Bulawayo
August 26: v India, Bulawayo
August 31: v Zimbabwe, Harare
September 2: v India, Harare
September 6: Final, Harare

* JEETAN PATEL

Born: Wellington
Age: 25
Off-spinner
One day record: 19 matches, 19 wickets at 37