England appoint Jeetan Patel as spin-bowling consultant
Jeetan Patel will join England squad ahead of the first Test against South Africa.
LONDON (Web Desk) - Former New Zealand off-spinner Jeetan Patel has been appointed as England s spin bowling consultant for their upcoming tours of South Africa and Sri Lanka.
Patel had performed a similar role during the T20I leg of England s tour of New Zealand, which England won 3-2. The 39-year-old will now join the squad ahead of the first Test against South Africa, which begins on 26 December in Centurion. He is currently representing Wellington in New Zealand s Super Smash T20 competition and is set to play his last game for the franchise on 18 December against Central Districts.
"The opportunity to take up a role with England is one that doesn t come around often and one I simply can t turn down," Patel said in a statement.
Apart from his 78 international appearances, Patel has a rich wealth of county experience in England, where he played for Warwickshire, alongside the current England men s team director Ashley Giles. He has claimed 473 first-class wickets for Warwickshire and remains committed to playing one final season next year.
England went down 1-0 to New Zealand in a two-Test series this week. Their next assignment against South Africa consists of four Tests, three ODIs and three T20Is. After that, they tour Sri Lanka for a two-Test series in March 2020.
