Patel determined to leave his mark on Test series against India

WELLINGTON - New Zealand off spinner Jeetan Patel is determined to prove himself against the No.1 Test team in the world and make a genuine difference on his team’s tour of India.

Patel, who is not content to operate in the shadow of captain Daniel Vettori, desperately wants to leave his own mark on the three-test series.

“My job is to support Dan but it is also to be a wicket-taking option,” Stuff.co.nz quoted Patel, as saying.

Patel remains convinced that he can have a significant say when the second test starts in Hyderabad at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium on Friday, despite things not going according to his plan in the drawn first test at Ahmedabad.

“The first test was only a five out of 10 for me, it was still only par compared to where I want to be. I want to keep improving. There is hope for me to get seven (out of 10) here and at the end of the series to be at a 10,” he said.

“If I can go home at 10 out of 10 I think we’ll have gone pretty close to winning a test match,” Patel said.

Patel’s test opportunities have been few and far between since he debuted in 2006, and he has been regarded New Zealand’s second best spinner behind Vettori.

Patel knows that if he can prove himself against India’s strong batting lineup in Indian conditions then no one can question his value.

“If you can succeed over here as a spinner or a seamer that will mean you must be doing something right,” said Patel. (ANI)