I played against my nature: Mushfiq
||CF Correspondent||
Bangladesh batsman Mushfiqur Rahim said that he is pleased to score the double-hundred against Zimbabwe as it was made against his nature at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium.
There were several examples that proved he lost his way after doing all the hard work in the shorter formats which also indicated he lacked mental strength.
The ninety nine against Pakistan in the just concluded Asia Cup was the latest example where Mushfiqur failed to have the last smile despite doing all the hard work.
He messed it up just before completing the final lap on quite a few occasions in the last five years and there was a similar atmosphere after he reached 199 runs against Zimbabwe on Monday (November 12).
Leg-spinner Brandon Mavuta tried to put pressure on the right-hander by keeping all fielders close in an attempt to ignite him to play over the top and make something silly but it went in vain as he showed character and composure to give away a maiden.
There was no shortage of celebration after Mushfiqur became the first wicket-keeper batsman to score two double hundreds in Test cricket but there is certainly a good reason behind it – he managed to cross the last hurdle.
“There isn’t a batsman who doesn’t get nervous in the nineties. If someone doesn’t, he must be an angel. I think an individual’s true self comes out in these moments. I am definitely trying to stay in control. My last innings of 99 was certainly in my mind. I had struck a sweep shot into short-leg’s foot, and I didn’t get a run from it,” he said.
“I have been able to score without playing some of my favorite shots. It shows me that in the last 5-7 years I developed a lot of shots, which helped me to score runs playing low-risk cricket and that is a big gain for me as a batsman,” he added.
Mushfiqur, who resumed the day on 111 runs, was unbeaten on 135 when the hosts went for lunch and the way he handled the bowler without getting hot headed certainly showed his resolve.
“It is very important – when you are playing Tests the patience is key. And when you are playing on a wicket like Mirpur, you are never set to be honest. I think as a batsman it was also a big plus point for me, because on other wickets maybe I would have gone for my shots and thought of playing this ball in that direction and that ball in the other. So from that viewpoint, I had to concentrate hard on every ball because, as you have seen, even with the old ball there was extra bounce or it was keeping low. So it also helped me,” said the wicketkeeper-batsman.
