Tigers at rest before WI test

The workload management of Nahid Rana, Bangladesh's fastest bowler, will be key in the coming days to keep the 22-year-old away from burnout and injuries, experts have said.  

"He is an asset for us. So, we need to look after him. It's not possible to produce such a pace bowler. You need luck to have someone like him. He got the height and the pace, something you won't get every day," former national selector Habibul Bashar told The Daily Star today.

"I think he is quite mature. Initially, he bowled too many short balls but has quickly adapted with his length…I think the work management will be key for Nahid." 

Nahid's latest success saw him claim his maiden five-wicket haul on Monday, the third day of the second Test against the West Indies in Jamaica. The right-arm pacer had come close to the feat against Pakistan in Rawalpindi in August when he took 4-44, a match-winning effort, in the second innings of the second Test and his 5-61 which rattled the Windies batting lineup yesterday could potentially turn out to be pivotal in favour of the Tigers.

Since making his international debut in March this year, Nahid grabbed worldwide attention through his sheer pace and is maturing with each passing day. 

Eight months into his international career, Nahid has made significant strides, setting his own benchmarks, consistently registering speeds of 150 kmph, having come from a country where express pacers are a rarity.

"He looked different from other bowlers at that time," Habibul, who spotted Nahid during a first-class match in Rajshahi a few years ago said.

"Unfortunately, he got injured and was out of cricket for a year. I wouldn't say he is different, he is special. He struggled during his early days due to injury. But as we know that he's a special kid, we keep him in the loop."

Nahid's childhood coach Alamgir Kabir, a former national pacer, expressed his satisfaction with the way the team management has been dealing with Nahid's workload. 

Bangladesh are playing their 10th Test since Nahid made his debut in the format against Sri Lanka in Sylhet and has featured in six of those matches, having been rested in the other four. Despite being part of Bangladesh's recent ODI squad against Afghanistan in the UAE, he played only the series-decider which was also his debut in the white-ball format for the Tigers.

"What I can feel from here after seeing him is that he is in better shape. He is fearless from the beginning and he looks hungrier than before. I think it's important to have courage whether you are playing Tests or any other format. You can see on his face that he will do well. I think the initial fear factor is gone," Alamgir told The Daily Star on Tuesday.

However, Alamgir pointed out that adding variations and working more on accuracy will allow Nahid to become a mainstay for the Tigers across all three formats.
 
 "He is trying to add more variations to his bowling. In the NCL [National Cricket League], he can do whatever he likes to do. He is trying similar things in international games which is really good. What I think he needs to do more is be more accurate. It is important when you are going for bouncers, yorkers, slowers, off-cutters or cross-seam deliveries. He is doing well but he has a lot of options to do better," he said.

"He has the hunger. He told me he would play in all three formats. He has already played one ODI. I hoped that he would do well but I didn't expect him to do this well. He has played against Afghanistan but when he plays against the big teams, we can judge whether he has the mettle to go further.

"Those who bowl this fast have always injury issues. I think if the board gives him rest in between matches, they can get his service for a long time. I think the board is doing well in managing his workload."
 

Despite a comfortable six-wicket victory over the West Indies in the first ODI, Bangladesh struggled on some occasions during the match, especially in the fielding department. 

The Tigers dropped multiple catches, which enabled the hosts to stitch a 39-run 10th-wicket stand.

ODI skipper Tamim Iqbal hinted that fixing these issues was imperative because it may cause greater suffering against stronger opponents.

"I think there are so many things to improve on. The mistakes we made today [Sunday] would be very costly in better conditions and against bigger teams," Tamim said after the match.

"Ever since I became the captain, I have been worried about this. It has to stop. If we had caught the catches, we would have chased 115 runs in this match. We need to figure it out," he added.

While Bangladesh have often opted for a "safer" option while approaching any cricket match, they decided to form a squad with six bowlers and five batters for the first ODI against the Windies. 

When asked about the unusual game plan, Tamim said: "We had a lot of debates about whether we should play an extra bowler or a batter. If we'd played an extra batsman, it would have been safer, but you have to take chances in international cricket. You'd probably ask me the question another way round if we had lost the game today, but I'm glad that the plan worked out well." 

Mahmudullah Riyad played a decent unbeaten 41-run knock and finished the game in style with a boundary. Although his recent performances with the bat in T20 cricket have been called into question, the ODI skipper backed his colleague and illustrated the significance of Riyad's contribution in the absence of the likes of Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim and Yasir Ali Rabbi.

"Regular batsman at No. 3, 4, 5 were not available, who are are very important for us. 25-30 runs also became very important for Riyad Bhai. When we look back after one or two failures, we see only 25 runs, 26 runs. But those 25, 26 runs are very important.

"If you think of the three ODIs in South Africa, he didn't have a chance to play big innings there. That's why I think his situation should be looked at from a different perspective. Because his work is hardly appreciated," he concluded.

Bangladesh coach Phil Simmons had his say about Bangladesh's key performers in the 101-run series-levelling win in the second Test of the two-match series against the West Indies in Jamaica on Wednesday. Below are excerpts of his take on Nahid Rana, Jaker Ali, and Mehedi Hasan Miraz that he shared with the official broadcast after the match. 

On Nahid Rana

I was even more impressed [with Rana in Jamaica] than I was in Sharjah because he was brilliant there. For him to be so consistent on this wicket and hitting his lengths and more so because at 5 o'clock yesterday, he was still bowling in the mid-140s. We underrated the young fast bowler's ability to assess the situation.

The things he tells me before going on to the field, I wonder whether he is playing his fourth or fifth Test match. He is impressive with pace, but also with his hunger to learn. He keeps growing, and I am sure we will see a lot more of him."

We are trying our best so that his overs are in a balanced area where we keep him from injury but keep him sharp. Hopefully, I can get him into the T20 squad and play him at least in one T20 so we can see what he has in that format.

On Miraz's captaincy and Taijul

I have been impressed with [Mehedi] having to take over from Shanto on short notice. He has taken the job and run with it. Mehedi and Taijul complement each other. Mehedi is a little bit faster and straighter, whereas Taijul uses his variations a lot.

Taijul loves hitting the stumps, so he bowls more arm balls than [conventional] spinners. He seems to be getting better every game. You could see that there was more variation and also more thought in his bowling here in every session.

On Jaker Ali and Bangladesh's second innings batting approach

Jaker scored three fifties in successive Tests, so he knows his game. We saw that he can also take on every bowler. He needs to take what he gets from here, and try to improve on it. This is not always going to be the way it is.

Whereas for the other batters, I loved the way they came out with a positive attitude. They had a survival attitude in the first few games [since I took charge]. On the third day, you saw that they were saying, 'I have come to play the game'. I loved and enjoyed it. I made sure that they know that it is the way we have to play from now on.

On batting first

I think when we had the delay and the sun was out, as hot as I felt in Jamaica for a long time, there was no question that we had to bat first. The wicket had dried out. I think breaking it to the batters… It is a team that likes to bowl first to see what's there. We had to make the running in the Test match, as were down 1-0. The decision to bat wasn't a difficult one. Giving them the confidence that I believe in you, that you can bat first here, I think that led to how we batted in the second innings. We just needed to do better than the first innings. 

Kane Williamson anchored New Zealand to a tense four-wicket victory at Edgbaston on Wednesday after an astonishing stroke of luck when South Africa failed to review an edge from the Kiwi captain.

The Black Caps’ skipper was on 76 when he got a faint edge to a ball by leg-spinner Imran Tahir that Quinton de Kock took behind the stumps but South Africa took no action.

That decision could prove fatal to their tournament hopes, with the Proteas now needing a miracle to progress to the semifinals after just one win from six matches, while New Zealand now top the 10-team table.

Earlier, Martin Guptill, who had been guiding New Zealand towards their target of 242 off a rain-reduced 49 overs with a minimum of fuss, trod on his stumps to spark a mini collapse.

The batsman, on 35, pulled Andile Phehlukwayo and ended up swivelling, only to lose his balance and clip his leg stump with his foot.

Two overs later New Zealand slipped to 74-3 when Ross Taylor tickled a Chris Morris leg-side delivery and De Kock took the catch behind the stumps. Tom Latham’s dismissal left them struggling at 80-4.

Jimmy Neesham (23) steadied the ship with his skipper but when he was out, New Zealand were back in trouble at 137-5.

Colin de Grandhomme came to New Zealand’s rescue, batting positively and bringing up his fifty off 39 balls but when he was caught in the deep for 60 by Du Plessis off Lungi Ngidi, Kiwi nerves were jangling again.

Eight were still needed off the final over.

But Mitchell Santner pinched a single and Williamson kept his nerve, bringing up his century with a huge six off the next ball and then a four sealed the victory.

Earlier, Rassie van der Dussen gave South Africa something to bowl at as the Proteas struggled to 241-6 after losing the toss.

Hashim Amla made a sluggish 55 off 83 balls but Van der Dussen’s 67 not out came at better than a run a ball.

During his innings, Amla became the fourth South African to reach 8,000 runs in one-day internationals.

He is the second-fastest player (176 innings) from any side to reach the milestone after India’s Virat Kohli (175 innings).