Tait: Nahid Rana should get the new ball
Nahid Rana in action, Cricfrenzy
Bangladesh pace bowling coach Shaun Tait admitted that the team missed an opportunity with the first new ball on Day 3 of the first Test against Sri Lanka, as the hosts finished strongly on 368 for 4 in reply to Bangladesh’s 495.
Tait showed strong support for young fast bowler Nahid Rana, who came under criticism after going wicketless while conceding 80 runs from 16 overs.
Nissanka misses double ton as Sri Lanka take control on Day 3
11 hrs ago
"Anyone that bowls that pace, he should get the new ball from time to time. I don't know, going forward, who is going to take the new ball. This is my first Test match (as fast bowling coach). We have two fast bowlers. He has to take the new ball. He is absolutely fine (taking the new ball). I think this is his eighth Test. It is early in his career. He burst onto the scene."
Tait highlighted the pressure the young pacer is facing, both from within and outside the team:
"There's a lot of attention and expectation on him. I don't know if Bangladesh have ever had a fast bowler as exciting as him. There's a little bit of pressure on him from the media and public. It is up to me to work through that with him, as the bowling coach. It is not just about the bowling all the time. It is also how you deal with the extra pressure of being a young superstar."
Tait, who is overseeing his first Test as Bangladesh’s fast bowling coach, pointed to the pitch conditions and praised the bowlers’ effort, despite their lack of breakthroughs.
Taskin optimistic about Tait’s coaching
29 May 25
"It is a good batting wicket. It was difficult conditions for fast bowlers today. They toiled hard. They gave effort. We could have started better with the first new ball. We probably missed out. They know that. That's all you can ask for. You bowl on a different day on a different wicket, you get a different result," Tait said during the post-day press conference.
The Galle surface, often known for offering turn by Day 3, didn’t behave as many expected, Tait noted.
"Today was a good batting day, we saw that. It probably hasn't spun as much as maybe people thought it would on the third day. Normally Galle starts to turn a bit more. It turned a little but nothing significant. There's still a couple of days left. Test cricket can change pretty quickly. There's hard work to be done."
