Spin is our main weapon: Joshi

It was another wet and grey day at Taunton, where the Bangladesh team were enjoying the second day of a two-day break from cricket and practice yesterday. But from today, the Tigers will get back to the serious business of practising hard for their next World Cup challenge -- the match against West Indies at the Cooper Associates County Ground in Taunton on June 17. The forecast for today is a little more promising than it has been for the past two days and the team may get in a full practice session, which their spinners in particular will be hoping for desperately.

With the spin bowling of Shakib Al Hasan, Mehedi Hasan Miraz and even part-timer Mosaddek Hossain proving to be their main strength in this World Cup, Bangladesh are in a bit of a quandary. As seen in home and away series last year, West Indies are not adept at playing spin but they also have power hitters who can send mishits out of the small ground.

There has been a clear divide between Bangladesh's spinners and pacers so far in the three matches of this World Cup. Mehedi, Shakib and Mosaddek are the three bowlers with an economy rate of less than six, while pacers Mustafizur Rahman, Mohammad Saifuddin and skipper Mashrafe Bin Mortaza have all been conceding runs at more than seven runs an over -- a bit of a surprise given that the small straight boundaries and English conditions were expected to help the pacers more.

Mehedi has consistently been the most economical, with the lowest economy rate of 5.26 for Bangladesh, and second best after Australia's Patrick Cummins among bowlers who have bowled a minimum of 30 overs. 

"Our spinners have done exceptionally well in the challenges and situations that they have faced," Bangladesh spin bowling consultant Sunil Joshi told reporters at the team hotel in Taunton yesterday. "I think it is especially important for our bowling unit, because spin is our main weapon."

Joshi thought that the spinners' performance was commendable even in the match against England in Cardiff on June 8, when Bangladesh conceded 386 for six.

"We have seen the best example when England were 100 for no loss. Mosaddek and Miraz came and bowled to two right-handers [Jonny Bairstow and Jason Roy]. They are bowling the best to the right-handers as well," Joshi said.

As far as the West Indies threat is concerned, Joshi did not appear too worried. "I think you have to assess the situation, who you are bowling to -- top-order or middle-order batsmen. Based on that, we will make our plans."

The former Indian spinner also informed that despite the washout against Sri Lanka in Bristol on Tuesday setting the team back in the race to the semifinals, the Tigers were in good spirits. "They are absolutely fine, in good spirits. We have a high energy team with us. We have played back-to-back games so we will be energised after the two-day break."