File photo – Tamim Iqbal has outlined the importance of hitting small targets on the tour of Sri Lanka © Associated Press
Often the Bangladesh players zero in on the need to do well in the first hour of a session. But now it has been figured out within the team, and justifiably so, that far too many times they have given it their all in the first hour only to fizzle out in the second hour of a session.
In the last three Tests in New Zealand and India itself, there have been examples of Bangladesh starting well in a game or a session, and then being unable to carry on the momentum and pressing home the advantage going into lunch, tea or stumps. In Hyderabad against India, Taskin Ahmed and Kamrul Islam Rabbi started strongly on the opening day but the pair, and the subsequent bowlers, couldn’t keep up the pressure on the Indian top order. The same situation transpired with the ball a number of times in Wellington and Christchurch, when they couldn’t push on after a good start.
This particular scenario pops up even more when Bangladesh are batting. Too often, they lose wickets in a cluster in the latter part of a session, resulting in a collapse from a position of strength. Batsmen well set at the crease lose focus, which is one of the two problems addressed by coach Chandika Hathurusingha.
“The one-percenters and five-percenters are letting us down,” Hathurusingha said. “We know that we have the capability. There are two things – one, concentrating over a period. We sometimes switch off. The other thing is something that we have identified and spoken about, which is that we have to play the whole session rather than giving everything in the first hour and fading away in the second hour.
“We have discussed the game plan, how to be competitive for two-hour sessions. We did well when we tried this in the two-day practice game. I think this is going to help us. Now we will learn from those mistakes and identify those moments in the game when they come, and obviously we are going to keep reminding [ourselves] those things during this series.”
Tamim Iqbal, Bangladesh’s opening batsman, also said that achieving small targets within the Test will keep them within a process. One of the early boxes he has ticked has been getting a big score in the practice match in Moratuwa, as he cracked 136 off 182 balls with nine fours and seven sixes.
“The team and I have to take on small targets, so that our process remains on track. If we can bat well and stick to our plans, we can do something good. Things will be different.
“I did well in one innings but that doesn’t mean I will keep playing in the same way in Galle. But as I said, if I am on track with the process, it gives me more chance to get a big score,” he said.
Tamim said that Bangladesh have a chance to beat Sri Lanka in a Test series, which will be for the first time. “We know the importance of the series. We feel we should win it if we play good cricket. They are also a good, young team. We are mentally prepared, and everyone is trying their best to make it to the final playing XI,” he said.
Hathurusingha said that the players, having impressed more on an individual level and sporadically as a team in New Zealand and India, would now have to put it all together for a major team effort in Galle and Colombo despite the hot weather which is worrying him slightly.
“I think we have a good chance this year – other than the two Test series in India and New Zealand – for various reasons. We had good performances in those conditions but here we stand a good chance if we execute our plans.
“Skill-wise, both teams match really well. Home advantage for Sri Lanka is a huge factor. It is totally different to any other Test country. Heat is a huge factor, for concentration and building pressure. That’s the only thing that I am bit concerned about, but we are going to be very competitive,” said Hathurusingha.
Mohammad Isam is ESPNcricinfo’s Bangladesh correspondent. @isam84
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Source: ESPN Crickinfo