Short-ball was not an issue, says McKenzie
|| CF Correspondent ||
Bangladesh white-ball batting consultant Neil McKenzie said that he is convinced that short ball was not an issue against Windies and they failed because they were unable to use the pace in the opening Twenty20 international at Sylhet on Monday.
West Indies pace bowlers managed to put their opponent in all sort of trouble in the three-match series opener as they managed to dismiss their opponent for 129 runs before Shai Hope blazing half-century guided them to 130-2 in 10-5 overs.
The eight wicket win helped the visitors take a 1-0 lead in the series and also raised question mark over the host batsmen ability to adapt against short-pitch balls in a wicket assisting some kind of bounce and pace.
“I think the short ball in T20 cricket is an aggressive tactic from the bowling side. If you are smart, it is not an easy ball to defend as well. I have no issues with the short ball today,” McKenzie told reporters at the press conference at Sylhet.
“I think it is in the past. I see worried when I see guys getting gloved or moving away to leg or get beaten for pace around your nose. Today it was more about a bit of overconfidence. If you look at those three dismissals. You have Liton Das coming down the track at a guy bowling 140. It takes a lot of guts, heart and belief in yourself. Tamim has been in great form. He is trying to hit it way in front of square. Soumya also tried to do the same thing,” he said.
“I just think that it is just the nature of the game that you try to match aggression with aggression was the key to that. Looking to stay on top of the ball, trying to hit it the square-leg umpire and behind, using the pace, was a better shot on that surface. There was extra bounce in that wicket. I am not worried about the way they played the short ball. I think it was overconfidence, trying to fight fire with fire. Sometimes you have to deflect more than attack,” he added.
