Wellington, Apr 5 : New Zealand coach Andy Moles has rubbished suggestions that Jeetan Patel should be picked regardless of whether a pitch favours spinners or seamers.

"We always look at the surface first and the team is selected based on that. Jeetan bowled really well in Napier and there's no doubting that when the wicket suits two spinners, we are lucky to have someone of his quality ready to play," Moles told Sunday News.

Despite being New Zealand's best bowler in the second test at McLean Park in Napier, Patel who snared four wickets including the prized scalps of Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir was considered surplus to requirements for the final test in Wellington.

Patel said that it has been extremely frustrating, especially in the last six months or so.

"I just haven't been able to play much cricket and even though I'm working hard and doing my stuff behind the scenes, if you're not playing it can be very hard to gauge where you are at.

"I'm always dirty when I get left out of the side even if the pitch is an ugly green one. I hate not playing. It's my job and it''s what I spend all week training to do," he added.

Tim Southee, who struggled to contain the Indian batsmen from the outset, replaced Patel in the side.

In recent weeks, the spinner from Wellington has been backed by a number of former players and last week Sunday News cricket analyst Simon Doull said "Patel should be picked in every test." (ANI)