Barramundis reel in former Black Cap

The Papua New Guinea national cricket team have pulled off a major coup, signing former New Zealand international Dipak Patel as head coach.

Known as a handy lower-order batsman, a wily spinner and an excellent fielder, Patel will add experience and tactical guile to a team of naturally gifted athletes.

“I want to take the Barramundis to a higher ICC ranking,” Patel said of his 16th-ranked side,

“(This will be) achievable through having a strong administration, training and playing philosophies.

“I am very pleased to be named the head coach and really look forward to working very closely with the team and the players”.

The signing is another step forward for the East-Asia Pacific Associates after PNG were rewarded for their fourth-place finish at the 2015 ICC World Cup Qualifier tournament with official ICC One-Day International status earlier this year.

Based out of Port Moresby, Patel’s role will see him share his expertise across all levels of cricket in PNG with a particular focus on developing skills amongst the country’s younger brigade.

“I want to help develop and strengthen the U19s and ‘A’ squads by having a hard working culture and by creating a cricket-aware environment.

“I’m also looking to build a sustainable depth of talent under the Barramundis which will facilitate the future (of cricket)”.

Born in Kenya, Patel moved to England at the age of 10 and was playing for Worcestershire before he was 18.

Despite strong performances in county cricket, Patel was overlooked for England selection and moved to New Zealand in a bid to secure an international berth.

After two solid seasons with bat and ball for Auckland, the allrounder was selected for the Black Caps side take on the West Indies in 1987. He went on to play 37 Tests, 75 ODIs, notch five Test half-centuries and pick up three five-wicket hauls.

And as the video below shows, he could also hang on to classic catch.

Patel is probably most famous for revolutionising the role of the spinner in short-form cricket, used by New Zealand captain Martin Crowe to open the bowling during the 1992 World Cup – a tactic still employed today to curb the effectiveness of big-hitting openers.

After retiring in 1997 Patel returned to his roots, coaching Auckland in first-class cricket and taking on a position with the New Zealand U19 side.

“Although cricket is a sport below the national sport, Rugby League, (in PNG)” the 55-year-old Patel said.

“People have told me it is very popular as a pastime in local villages.

“I’m also well aware that there is a lot of untapped natural talent with lots of flare.”

Patel will get his first chance to see that natural flare when PNG compete in the East-Asia Pacific Division One tournament in Australia later this year.

“We’re excited to have an experienced head like Patel come into our setup to help our national teams’ progress to the next level,” said Cricket PNG General Manager Greg Campbell.

“The next couple of years will be huge for the national teams and Patel has come in at the right time.

“We wish him all the best.”