Jeetan Patel appointed England spin bowling consultant for New Zealand IT20 series

The 39-year-old off-spinner, who captains the Edgbaston county and is the club’s longstanding overseas player, will work with Adil Rashid and Matt Parkinson

Warwickshire stalwart Jeetan Patel has been appointed as a spin bowling consultant for England’s five-match IT20 series against New Zealand.

The 39-year-old off-spinner, who captains the Edgbaston county and is the club’s longstanding overseas player, played 24 Tests for New Zealand between 2006 and 2017 and has taken 229 wickets in T20 cricket.

The series, which begins on November 1 at Hagley Oval, Christchurch, will see an experimental England side – still led by Eoin Morgan – face the home team.

World Cup-winning leg-spinner Adil Rashid keeps his place in the squad, where he will be joined by fellow wrist-spinner Matt Parkinson. The 22-year-old Lancashire man, part of an England squad for the first time, has been included in the red-ball and white-ball parties for the tour. Joe Denly also provides a part-time option.

Patel is contracted to Cricket Wellington, but has been given dispensation to miss the first three matches of the Plunket Shield season. He will join up with the England squad when they arrive in Christchurch next week.

The 39-year-old off-spinner has played 24 Tests for the Black Caps. He ended this year’s Specsavers County Championship with Warwickshire taking 64 wickets at 26.75 – only Essex’s Simon Harmer took more scalps as a spinner.

His role with England has the full support of New Zealand Cricket and Cricket Wellington, while also adding to Patel’s experience ahead of his ambitions of becoming a coach once his playing career comes to an end.

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