Refined Joy looking to impress

Mahmudul Hasan Joy's inclusion in the Test side could help could be the answer to Bangladesh's long search for an opening partner to Tamim Iqbal, with the youngster already showing glimpses of his ability in the longest format of the game.

The likes of Shadman Islam, Mohammad Naim and Saif Hasan were among others to be given opportunities, but nobody grabbed those chances until Mahmudul burst onto the scene. Joy provided insight into his patient mindset in just his second Test, facing 228 balls and scoring 78 in the historic Test win against New Zealand at Mount Maunganui in January this year.

The 21-year-old continued to impress, showing maturity beyond his years on way to registering his maiden Test hundred and the first by a Bangladesh batter against South Africa in March this year.

But although Joy scored a fifty in the first Test against Sri Lankan in Chattogram, the right-hander failed to have an impact on the second Test in Mirpur, where he was dismissed for naught and 15.

There were questions about Joy's lack of footwork from the start of his career and it came to the fore once again after Joy, with his feet rooted to the crease, was bowled by Rajitha delivery that went through the gate.

I haven't planned anything. I'm just looking forward to giving my best one day at a time. I will look to adapt and adjust once I land in the Caribbean since this will be my first tour. I will be able to bat in the nets later and I am looking forward to it.

— Mahmudul Hasan Joy

The Chandpur native worked on his batting with his childhood coach Syed Shameem Akhter Faruqi, working on his shuffling and head position, before travelling to the seam-friendly Caribbean for the first time.

"He worked on his own during the break and before travelling to West Indies and he shared something about his batting that he wanted to work on. He worked on his shuffling and said that it was important for him to have good rhythm because otherwise it becomes difficult for him. Apart from that, I think he may have also worked on his head positioning to get more balance," Shameem told The Daily Star.

However, Joy's childhood mentor and the BCB-appointed Chandpur district coach was confident that Joy would score big on the upcoming West Indies tour.

"If you noticed his knocks in New Zealand and South Africa, he looked comfortable in seaming conditions and was able to adapt to the pace and bounce, that too in tough conditions. I am confident that he will be able to adapt well in the Caribbean too. His patience and ability to adapt quickly makes him a very intelligent cricketer," he added.

Before being among the first lot of Bangladeshi cricketers to travel to West Indies yesterday, the 21-year-old informed that he was looking to adjust to the seam-friendly conditions.

"I haven't planned anything. I'm just looking forward to giving my best one day at a time. I will look to adapt and adjust once I land in the Caribbean since this will be my first tour. I will be able to bat in the nets later and I am looking forward to it," Joy said at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka yesterday.