Shrey, a Year 11 student at Adelaide High School, was focusing on his studies when the good news arrived.
"I was just doing my school homework when I received my dream email," he tells SBS Gujarati.
"It was from Cricket Australia letting me know that I had been selected in the Australian Deaf cricket team to play against England in the Inclusion Series."
The 16-year-old left-arm spinner was the youngest player picked for the tournament held in Brisbane in June, which saw Australia's Deaf, blind and intellectual disability squads play a series of T20I and ODI matches against England.
"I felt happy to represent the Gujarati and Indian communities in Australia. Playing for Australia at the highest level added a golden feather to my cap," Shrey says.
"I hope to see more second-generation migrants representing Australia internationally, as this show Australia is truly a multicultural country."
Highlights
- Shrey Patel represented the Australian Deaf side in the International Cricket Inclusion Series played against England.
- The Year 11 student was doing his school homework when he received an email about his selection for the national team.
- Shrey was the youngest player selected for the tournament.
The Australian Deaf Cricket team for the International Cricket Inclusion Series 2022. Source: Supplied by: Haresh Patel
A lifetime of cricket
Shrey, whose family is originally from the western Indian state of Gujarat, says cricket has been a big part of his upbringing in Australia.
"I was three years old when I arrived in Australia in 2008 with my parents," he says.
Growing up I watched cricket on television and became interested in it. My father took me to Adelaide Oval to watch an international cricket match in 2013, and I decided to try my hand at the game.
He started playing cricket with some friends at the Adelaide Warriors Cricket Club in 2014, and then joined Gaza Cricket Club's under 11 team in 2015. He has since represented the club's various junior and senior teams.
Just before the COVID-19 pandemic, he played the National Cricket Inclusion Championships at Geelong in January 2020. At 14, he was the youngest player to play in the tournament. 
According to Cricket Australia, Deaf cricket is open to players with hearing loss of at least 55 decibels, which is about the volume of normal conversation.
Shrey during a practice session with his teammates. Source: Supplied by Haresh Patel
No hearing aids or cochlear implants can be worn on the field of play, and the playing rules are largely the same as the standard laws of cricket.
While Shrey is hard of hearing, he has already won many trophies for his club, including Best Bowler of his team in 2019, 2021 and 2022, Best All Rounder of his team in 2020, and Junior Cricketer of the Year in 2021 and 2022.
Shrey says two of his best cricketing moment were when he took six wickets for 19 runs with four maidens off seven overs against Modbury in December 2021 and five wickets for 12 runs off five overs against Hope Valley in January 2022.
Proud moment for the Patel family
Shrey’s father, Haresh Patel, says he is overjoyed at his son's sporting progress.
"Shrey’s hard work paid off when he made the national Deaf squad, becoming the youngest player in the tournament," he says.
"When he received the Australian Baggy Green cap from the coach, he was thrilled and, for us, watching him represent Australia made us proud also."
For his part, Shrey says he wants to make his family and community proud.
Shrey with his mother Pallavi (L), elder sister Aney (2L), and Haresh (R) in a family function. Source: Supplied by: Shrey Patel
He recalls his parents greeting the news of his national team call-up with "tears in their eyes".
I quickly went to my parents and shared the news with them; my grandparents were also there. I told them I would be representing the Australian team in cricket. All were very happy to know about my achievement.
Shrey is seen taking cricketing tips from Australian spinner Nathan Lyon. Source: Supplied by Haresh Patel
"We spend a lot of time driving him around to several grounds to play cricket and watching all his games."
As parents, we always appreciate his performances. If he has a bad day on the ground, I say positive things and advise him to focus on the next game.
"We went to Geelong to watch him play at the National Cricket Inclusion Championships in 2020 and to Brisbane to watch the International Cricket Inclusion Series."
Shrey Patel is seen bowling against England in the tournament. Source: Supplied by: Haresh Patel
Balancing study and sport
A typical day for Shrey involves going to his cricket club either to train or coach other juniors.
But he also takes his studies seriously.
Haresh says his son finishes his homework on a daily basis and tends to complete assessments early rather than wait until deadline to allow time for cricket.
"When Shrey went to Brisbane to represent Australia, he would study either at night or on off days," Haresh says.
While Shrey is now focusing on his upcoming Year 12 studies, he says he would be available to represent Australia again if the opportunity came his way.
