Min Patel

Minal Mahesh Patel (born 7 July 1970) is a retired Indian-born cricketer; who made 2 appearances in Test cricket for England. He was a right-handed batsman and a slow left arm bowler, who primarily played for Kent.

Born in Bombay (now called Mumbai), and educated in England at Dartford Grammar School and later Manchester Polytechnic, Patel's first-class debut for Kent came at the tail-end of the 1989 English cricket season, in a match against high-flying Middlesex. He became a regular in the Kent side over the following seasons, and in 1994 and 1995 "took wickets for fun"; indeed in 1994 he was the leading wicket-taker in England with 90 at a bowling average of 22.86. Pitches at Kent's home ground, the St Lawrence Ground, began to be prepared specifically for the spin bowling of Patel and Carl Hooper, despite the home side also boasting a seam attack of Alan Igglesden, Martin McCague, Dean Headley and Duncan Spencer.

1996 saw Patel make his Test debut against the country of his birth, India. One of seven players to make their debut in the match at Edgbaston, Patel struggled to make an impact on a green wicket, only bowling ten overs in England's eight wicket win. Left out for the second Test at Lord's, he returned for the third Test at Trent Bridge. Again, Patel struggled on a pitch not suited to spin bowling, however he managed to take his maiden (and last) Test wicket; that of Sanjay Manjrekar, caught by Graeme Hick.