Catching has been inconsistent: Cook

There have been lapses in fielding by Bangladesh in recent matches. Even in the World Cup in England that ended last month, Bangladesh had dropped chances that proved pivotal as those affected the result of the matches. Bangladesh will be playing a one-off Test against Afghanistan, starting from September 5, which will be followed by a triangular T20I series featuring hosts Bangladesh, Zimbabwe and Afghanistan. The Tigers' fielding consultant Ryan Cook, talked about the aspects that the players need to improve ahead of their upcoming outings, when he talked to reporters today in Mirpur. Here is the transcript from today's press briefing:

How do you think Bangladesh can come back?

I think we try to improve every day. I mean it depends on pace that coming from. There are some errors in the basics, we are trying to fic that as much as possible. We had lots of good game in the World Cup and couple of matches slipped. Couples of chances that gone down. And the guys know that, so we are trying to improve those aspects.

Basics?

Everyone can improve from where they are now. If that's the basics at the under-15 level all the way through, that's where you got to be. But sometimes some guys from different place, like Ebadat, who did not come from aged group cricket. So sometimes it's difficult to know, where he is coming from. But it's going to be a priority from the lower ages as well.

Bangladesh's left-arm pacer Mustafizur Rahman during practice in Mirpur today. Photo: BCB

Catching issue

I think it's been inconsistent. We had some really good catches in the World Cup and during the Sri Lanka series. But catching has to be consistent. And that's where we will be focusing on next couple of days.

How tough for national coach to work at this level?

It's not easy but all the coaches are doing that. Everyone (coaches) needs to work on the (players') basics. Because that's the fundamental to win games. So from that perspective it's not easy but that's what we need to do.

Good fielder who can take god catches?

From the slip fielding perspective, we want to transform players in the squad then we decide who needs to go. The guys who suits best to the position, will go to that position.

Do you think Bangladesh's fielding is up to the standard at the moment?

I would say, probable at mid-table in the fielding. We had good chance to see ourselves at a neutral condition during the World Cup. And we found, probably we are at the middle of the pack. I would like to us in top three.

What we need to focus to see ourselves in the top three?

We need to everything. We worked really hard before the World Cup to try to convert our chances. Cause that was important. Direct hit runs out went up a lot in the World Cup, and we focused on it a lot. Catching percentage was really good, comparing with the other teams. We put lot of focus on that in order to achieve that.

World Cup fielding report?

I have provided the World Cup fielding report as well as the series I was involved so far. You know lots of these stuff would be really holistic.  I break it down in terms of what our percentages in each game in Test. Or how many runs we save or cost if it's one-day cricket so those things I included.

One of the thing we focused a lot was, on the positions of the players in the areas of strength, we focused on it during the World Cup a lot. We actually did that quite well in Sri Lanka. So those were the things in those reports.