Patel teams up with England

Warwickshire’s Jeetan Patel will work with England next month as a spin bowling consultant ahead of the Twenty20 series with New Zealand. ‘Jeets’ played 24 Tests for the Black Caps before retiring from international cricket in 2014 to focus on county cricket. The 39-year-old ended this year’s County Championship with 64 wickets at a rate of 26.75 and will now start a new challenge this winter. Patel, who also plays for Wellington in New Zealand, will be allowed to miss the first three matches of the Plunket Shield season to coach the England bowlers. New head coach Chris Silverwood is already putting his own stamp on things after being appointed earlier this month. Patel signed a new contract at Edgbaston for next season, but the Bears captain will try his hand at coaching as he prepares for the end of his career in the coming years. The five-match T20 series between England and New Zealand starts at Hagley Oval, Christchurch on November 1.