If it was not apparent already, the first four days since the World Cup began have made it pretty certain that spin is going to have a huge impact at this World Cup. At Dharmasala, where seam and swing was on the forecast, the Bangladesh spin duo of Shakib Al Hasan and Mehedi Hasan Miraz turned the game in Bangladesh's favour with three wickets each while restricting the run-scoring.

The Tigers' spin coach Rangana Herath would have a key role in assessing the conditions along with the spin options for each game. For now, Herath appeared to be satisfied with how well Bangladesh read the pitch to restrict Afghanistan to a below-par score, especially after Afghanistan openers looked pretty comfortable against Bangladesh pace attack.

Shakib and Miraz both produced attacking spells with the former getting the first breakthrough after a solid partnership had developed between Afghanistan's opening pair of Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran.

"To be honest, 10 out of 10," Herath said about Shakib and Miraz's bowling performance at the press conference in Dharmasala today.
"As I said earlier, they read the pitch well. So, then they analysed which line and which length that they needed to bowl. And they had a very attacking field setting as well. So, in that case, I'm hundred percent happy with how they bowled actually," he said.

That Bangladesh did not lose way after the initial opening partnership had developed was important from the perspective of the brand of cricket that team wants to play.

Tigers face England in a pivotal game tomorrow at Dharmasala. Knowing the conditions should give Bangladesh an edge. Herath said that the message has been given to the players regarding having similar approach as the Afghanistan game.

"Very important is playing our brand of cricket. So, with that approach and with the body language. We need to play that same mindset with that same approach. So, if we can play that brand of our cricket, there's a chance of winning as well as succeeding," he felt.

The Tigers had encouraged Afghanistan to take on the spinners, which is how they made inroads into the Afghanistan batting. Herath suggested that the attacking field setting was part of skipper Shakib and the spinners' plan.

"Definitely, because when it comes to planning, obviously, you have to play your best with your skill and strength. So, in that case, having an extra fielder inside, some different kind of a field setting. So those are we are thinking of actually," he concluded.