Variation to become Bangladesh pacers' most potent weapon?
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||Desk Report||
Bangladesh pacer Abu Hider awaits his ODI debut for the country's national team after returning to its T20I plans in March this year, following a two-year gap. Being a member of the Asia Cup squad, the 22-year-old wants to improve himself in the practice sessions, so that he can become a part of the playing eleven in the continental showpiece event that is schedule to start on September 15, in the UAE.
“I have to do well [in practice], if I want to play matches. I think it's a challenging to do well and to gain experience,” Hider told reporters on Tuesday (September 4).
“All the pacers in the squad have settled down. I may be among the juniors, but I am doing my best to make myself experienced and learn from the seniors. And a competition is going on here. The other pacers [in the squad] are doing well. So, I, too, have the urge to do well.”
Bangladesh bowling coach Courtney Walsh joined the team on Tuesday. The other three pacers in the squad were very good in Bangladesh's last ODI assignment against West Indies and shared a total of 17 wickets in the three-match series, making it to the top three positions of the wicket-taking charts. Hence, it goes without saying that it’s the newcomers that the coach will have to work on mainly.
Speaking of the practice sessions, Hider said that they have been working on variation. The fact that the pacers are paying careful attention to variations could turn it into their most effective weapon in the UAE, where spinners are likely to gain more advantage in the mainstream Asian conditions.
“[We’ve been] working on variation. For example, I used to deliver only off-cutters, but now I am working on back-of-the-hands, knuckle balls, and yorkers. I am trying to bring perfection while practicing. It will not happen in a day. It will become better through practicing,” said Hider.
