Walsh tries to fine-tune of local pacers

He thinks Fizz and Taskin can form a formidable pace pair

Bangladesh fast bowling coach Courtney Walsh trashed the claim of changing the pace bowlers’ bowling action, stating he has been trying to fine-tune and correct mistakes and improve on certain areas.

Since the legendary bowler took the charge, there was no visible progress in Bangladesh’s pace bowling department and at the same time, some of the performers like Mustafizur Rahman and Taskin Ahmed showed poor performance across the format. And this is what the critics identified to criticize the former fast bowler, touted as one of the greatest bowler the world has ever seen.

While the critics more often raised their voice high, no one pointed out that both Taskin and Mustafiur Rahman’s performance declined due to some personal problems to which Walsh had nothing to do. Mustafizur came off a long injury which needed operation to be healed while Taskin had to remodel his bowling action after being reported during the World T20 in India in 2016.

Walsh in fact didn’t get the fast bowlers in good shape and the bowlers also had been in continuous cricket since he took over. The conditioning camp however came as good for him to work and talk with the bowlers intensively.

“It is the first chance I have had to really do any serious work with them. Since my arrival they have been in competition so it is hard to do a lot of stuff while they are playing games. So contrary to what a lot of people are writing and saying that I have changed actions, nothing of that sort has happened,” said Walsh who was appointed as Bangladesh’s fast bowling coach in last September.

Walsh’s passion for the Bangladesh cricket’s betterment is evidenced in his early arrival to the country while the other coaches chose to be in holiday after long international season.

“We are just providing more encouragement and trying to help. Now this is a chance to correct whatever mistakes we saw in the horizon. This is one of the reasons why I came a bit earlier, to try to correct them as best as I can in terms of working with the players. It is hard to make wholesale changes when you are in competition,” he said.

From what Walsh experienced after watching his pupils in the last 10 months that they were not as consistent as they should be. He however said the consistency would come with the experience.

 “One of the main basics is consistency. They’ve been not been as consistent as they should be or can be. It comes with experience but unfortunately we don’t tour often. It is not a major jump they have to take but it is about consistency and control,” he pointed out adding that age is the favour of Bangladesh bowlers what is the biggest plus point.

Walsh also clarified as to why Taskin’s pace was dropped and what adjustments Mustafizur needed to be world beater that he promised in his early days.

“Taskin is trying to get consistent. I think he wasn’t hitting the areas that he wanted to. We want him to bowl fast, because he has the pace and he can utilize it. He has to have controlled aggression, and he has to be able to put the ball in the right area to make that pace count.

“I noticed Mustafizur was falling away a little bit in England. We have been trying to get him to be more upright and balanced, so that he can pull through. We are also trying to get back his pace to where it used to be, and get him a little bit closer to the stumps. He knows what needs to be done as well,”

Walsh also said that Mustafizur needed not to change his action unless it is badly required.

Kamrul Islam Rabbi is the another fast bowler who impressed Walsh.

“We have to do a little bit more work with him. Rabbi is keen to do well. The guys recognise they might get more opportunities when they go abroad.”

In his playing days, he formed a formidable pace bowling pair with Curtley Ambrose. Walsh believed Mustafizur and Taskin could form such sort of pair to leave batsmen in a state of embarrassment.

“Fizz and Taskin can complement each other. A fast bowler mentioned that he likes to bowl and help his partner, which is good. So we are thinking about that now. Fast bowlers do hunt in pairs, and it is good for them to start thinking this way now as youngsters. What used to happen was that instead of complementing each other, they used to compete. What helped myself and Curtley Ambrose was that we helped each other. We tried to outthink batsmen.”

Walsh however revealed he had no reservation about Champaka Ramanayake, the Sri Lankan former fast bowler whom BCB wants to appoint as the bowling coach, keeping Walsh as the mentor.

“Anything that can help Bangladesh cricket, I am a supporter of it. It is not official but I heard that he is coming so he is someone I have known. I will be welcoming him with open arms. We can work together to improve Bangladesh cricket.”

Walsh tries to fine-tune of local pacers

He thinks Fizz and Taskin can form a formidable pace pair

Bangladesh fast bowling coach Courtney Walsh trashed the claim of changing the pace bowlers bowling action, stating he has been trying to fine-tune and correct mistakes and improve on certain areas. Since the legendary bowler took the charge, there was no visible progress in Bangladeshs pace bowling department and at the same time, some of the performers like Mustafizur Rahman and Taskin Ahmed showed poor performance across the format. And this is what the critics identified to criticize the former fast bowler, touted as one of the greatest bowler the world has ever seen. While the critics more often raised their voice high, no one pointed out that both Taskin and Mustafiur Rahmans performance declined due to some personal problems to which Walsh had nothing to do. Mustafizur came off a long injury which needed operation to be healed while Taskin had to remodel his bowling action after being reported during the World T20 in India in 2016. Walsh in fact didnt get the fast bowlers in good shape and the bowlers also had been in continuous cricket since he took over. The conditioning camp however came as good for him to work and talk with the bowlers intensively. It is the first chance I have had to really do any serious work with them. Since my arrival they have been in competition so it is hard to do a lot of stuff while they are playing games. So contrary to what a lot of people are writing and saying that I have changed actions, nothing of that sort has happened, said Walsh who was appointed as Bangladeshs fast bowling coach in last September. Walshs passion for the Bangladesh crickets betterment is evidenced in his early arrival to the country while the other coaches chose to be in holiday after long international season. We are just providing more encouragement and trying to help. Now this is a chance to correct whatever mistakes we saw in the horizon. This is one of the reasons why I came a bit earlier, to try to correct them as best as I can in terms of working with the players. It is hard to make wholesale changes when you are in competition, he said. From what Walsh experienced after watching his pupils in the last 10 months that they were not as consistent as they should be. He however said the consistency would come with the experience. One of the main basics is consistency. Theyve been not been as consistent as they should be or can be. It comes with experience but unfortunately we dont tour often. It is not a major jump they have to take but it is about consistency and control, he pointed out adding that age is the favour of Bangladesh bowlers what is the biggest plus point. Walsh also clarified as to why Taskins pace was dropped and what adjustments Mustafizur needed to be world beater that he promised in his early days. Taskin is trying to get consistent. I think he wasnt hitting the areas that he wanted to. We want him to bowl fast, because he has the pace and he can utilize it. He has to have controlled aggression, and he has to be able to put the ball in the right area to make that pace count. I noticed Mustafizur was falling away a little bit in England. We have been trying to get him to be more upright and balanced, so that he can pull through. We are also trying to get back his pace to where it used to be, and get him a little bit closer to the stumps. He knows what needs to be done as well, Walsh also said that Mustafizur needed not to change his action unless it is badly required. Kamrul Islam Rabbi is the another fast bowler who impressed Walsh. We have to do a little bit more work with him. Rabbi is keen to do well. The guys recognise they might get more opportunities when they go abroad. In his playing days, he formed a formidable pace bowling pair with Curtley Ambrose. Walsh believed Mustafizur and Taskin could form such sort of pair to leave batsmen in a state of embarrassment. Fizz and Taskin can complement each other. A fast bowler mentioned that he likes to bowl and help his partner, which is good. So we are thinking about that now. Fast bowlers do hunt in pairs, and it is good for them to start thinking this way now as youngsters. What used to happen was that instead of complementing each other, they used to compete. What helped myself and Curtley Ambrose was that we helped each other. We tried to outthink batsmen. Walsh however revealed he had no reservation about Champaka Ramanayake, the Sri Lankan former fast bowler whom BCB wants to appoint as the bowling coach, keeping Walsh as the mentor. Anything that can help Bangladesh cricket, I am a supporter of it. It is not official but I heard that he is coming so he is someone I have known. I will be welcoming him with open arms. We can work together to improve Bangladesh cricket.