Dipak Patel

Dipak Narshibhai Patel is a right handed batsman and right arm offbreak bowler who was born in Nairobi in Kenya but emigrated to New Zealand as he was ambitious of playing Test cricket and had the opinion that there was a greater chance in that country.

The Test debut of Patel took place against the West Indies at Wellington on 20 February 1987 and his last Test was against Sri Lanka at Hamilton on 14 March 1997. Overall he appeared in 37 Test matches in which he scored 1200 runs at an average of 20.68 and strike rate of 42.40. This score was inclusive of 5 half centuries, 119 fours and 8 sixes. Patel has taken 15 catches as a fielder. He has bowled 6594 deliveries and conceded 3154 runs while taking 75 wickets. His economy rate has been 2.86 and strike rate 87.9.

Patel’s first one day international was against the West Indies on 18 March 1987 at Dunedin and last one was against Sri Lanka on 20 May 1997 at Hyderabad. In the 75 matches he played he scored just 623 runs at an average of 11.75 and strike rate of 71.77. His highest score was 71 and he has hit 7 sixes and 37 fours while taking 23 catches. He could take 45 wickets off the 3251 deliveries he bowled while conceding 2261 runs.

=== Career Highlights ===

During the 1992 Cricket World Cup Patel was used as an opening bowler which was a sensational innovation at that point of time and this strategy was very successful.