Axar Patel pens deal with English County club Durham in the second division

Now, the Gujarat-born lad has penned a six-match deal with second division English County side Durham Cricket Club. Patel is scheduled to make his debut against Glamorgan on August 19 and will then go on to play against county sides Northamptonshire, Sussex, Middlesex, Leicester and Warwickshire.

Patel, who is a known name in the limited-overs format will be keen on establishing himself as a Test player as well, ahead of India’s tour of England later this year. Patel has notched 79 wickets in 23 matches so far in first-class cricket throughout his career. Although his physical stature won’t show, the lanky player boasted an impressive average of 48.45 as well, having registered one century and ten fifties to his name.

Indian fast bowler, Varun Aaron, had previously announced that he will play for English county side Leicestershire this season. Cheteshwar Pujara and Ishant Sharma, too, will be playing for Yorkshire and Sussex respectively from the start of the County season, while R Ashwin might return to play for Worcestershire. Indian skipper Virat Kohli is also set to have a County stint with Surrey that will see him miss India’s historic one-off Test against Afghanistan.