[1] He was unexpectedly brought back into the national team in 2016, replacing the injured Mark Craig during the tour to India, where he exhibited a far better batting technique.

He played for the New Zealand Cricket Academy in a one-day match against England A in 1999, and debuted for Wellington early the next year with a five wicket bag in a loss to Auckland.

[3] In the 2004 English Season, he represented Buckingham Town Cricket Club, making a big impact in the 1st Team as well as progressing youngsters in local development schemes.

Back in New Zealand, Patel showed steady improvement as a bowler during the 2004–05 season, taking 26 first class wickets at an average of 32.84.

Under the experimental rules at the time, that meant Patel was a full member of the team despite not batting in the XI that scored 238 (all out) in the first innings.

[7] Patel's first home international was the fourth ODI of Sri Lanka's 2005–06 tour of New Zealand, in which he was named Man of the Match.

[9] Although a regular member of New Zealand's Test squad following his debut, Patel didn't make the XI for another match until 2008.

[7][13] Patel also holds the joint record for taking the most catches (2) by a substitute fielder in a T20I innings (along with Jonathan Carter, Eoin Morgan, Hashim Amla, Johnson Charles and Chamu Chibhabha).

Patel, who according to captain Kane Williamson "wasn't initially" considered by the selectors for the tour, was named as Craig's replacement.

On debut against Yorkshire he scored 120, his maiden first-class century and a record for a Warwickshire number 10, and shared a ninth wicket partnership of 200 with Jonathan Trott.

[27] Patel continued to build on his success with Warwickshire through 2013 (52 first class wickets at 30.01) and 2014 (59 at 26.32), and he remained a regular player for Wellington as well.

[29] He declined a recall to the New Zealand team for its tour of the West Indies in April 2014, prioritising his county contract with Warwickshire.

[30] His 2014 county season was his most celebrated, being the only player to take over 100 wickets (across all formats) and winning the MVP award from the Professional Cricketers' Association.

[35] He finished seventh on the competition's list of wicket-takers with 58 wickets at 25.27, and was named in the Professional Cricketers' Association Team of the Year.