Sessions with Saqlain has worked wonders: Jeetan Patel

COLOMBO - New Zealand off-spinner Jeetan Patel is excited about the training sessions he is having with former Pakistan off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq, who has been appointed as part-time bowling advisor of the Kiwi team.

Patel, who is preparing hard to earn a place in the team touring Sri Lanka, said Mushtaq’s vast experience at the international level has worked wonders for him.

“He’s been fantastic with all the guys. For me, we’d go through a check list and just talk about what’s going on out in the middle from a spinner’s perspective,” the NZPA quoted Patel, as saying.

While Mushtaq is not so keen to push Patel to learn the ‘doosra’, the art he (Mushtaq) mastered, Patel himself thinks he would have to add the deceptive delivery to his repertoire or he would become too predictable.

“He’s keen to keep me kosher, keep me in line. I don’t think there’s too much to change now but in future years hopefully we’ll spend some more time together and work on different deliveries,” Patel said.

Patel is guaranteed an eighth test cap when the first test against Sri Lanka gets underway at the scenic Galle International Stadium on Tuesday.

The Kiwi off-spinner is eagerly waiting for the Test series to prove his worth and cement his place not only in the Test squad but also in the limited over games.

“This is a chance for me to push my claims to play more for New Zealand; play more tests, more one-dayers and maybe get back in the Twenty20 side,” Patel said. (ANI)