New Zealand off-spinner Jeetan Patel has earned a special honour as he was named one of Wisden Almanack’s five cricketers of the year.
The 34-year-old, who has played 19 Tests and 39 ODIs for the BLACKCAPS, joined Moeen Ali, Gary Ballance, Adam Lyth and Angelo Mathews in claiming the accolade.
When out of the frame for the BLACKCAPS, the Wellington Firebirds bowler made the decision to concentrate on the lucrative county scene.
Patel earned this honour on the back of a standout season with Warwickshire as they dominated the English county scene. His 107 wickets were the most of any bowler in the season.
The Wisden award follows Patel being named the most valuable player of the 2014 by England's Professional Cricketers’ Association.
The Wisden annual award dates back to 1889 and is based on a player’s performances in the preceding English season. By tradition, it can only be won once by a player in a career.
The last New Zealander honoured by Wisden was Chris Cairns in 2000.
Sri Lanka great Kumar Sangakkara was named as the leading cricketer in the world and Australia’s Meg Lanning was chosen as the cricket "bible's" inaugural leading woman cricketer in the world.
