Rhodes identifies Bangladesh's experienced bowling lineup
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||Desk Report||
Spin-bowling has always been the sub-continental sides’ forte and Bangladesh head coach Steve Rhodes, too, acknowledged the fact from his team’s perspective.
The Tigers have also improved in the pace-bowling department over the last few years with Mashrafe Mortaza, perhaps the most-experienced cricketer of the team, leading from the front.
Bangladesh have unearthed exceptionally talented players like Mustafizur Rahman after a series of trials and errors since getting into the respectable Test-playing nations’ bracket.
Acting against the conventional method, Mashrafe introduced a four-pacer starting lineup in Bangladesh a few years ago, which certainly produced much success. His tactics gave the pacers more game-time than they used to get and later resulted in forming a key group of pacers.
The likes of Al-Amin Hossain, Taskin Ahmed and many others became part of that group for a short period of time but Rubel Hossain has had the opportunity to play regularly as he maintained the level of consistency and fitness that the team demanded. He emerged as a more prominent death-bowling option and has formed a formidable trio with Mustafizur and the captain himself in the recent past.
Rhodes now plans to operate this trio effectively while also focusing on some bowlers like Abu Hider Rony, who have shown a great deal of potential in specific formats.
“Fizz [Mustafizur Rahman] and Mash [Mashrafe Mortaza] are very experienced bowlers now. Rubel has played for a long time. Rony has shown some great things in the shorter format, in 20-over cricket.
“The spinners seem to always do well,” said Rhodes.
Gone are the days when pace-bowling, in the country, was only about how fast a bowler can throw the ball. Back then, Bangladesh could not truly rely on their seamers as they aren’t best known for their pace. They also used to cover up a rather fragile batting lineup with their spinners bowling relentlessly to bring out the desired result.
But now, with all bases covered, Bangladesh battle for their pride in every game and that surely requires them to strike the right notes every time. So, while the spinners and the batters carry out their duties accordingly, their pace-bowling attack also needs to maintain balance and thrive whenever the team needs them to.
