Mustafiz celebrates birthday in great style

Fizz wants to add new ‘weapons’ with cutters and slowers

A day after his body language and bowling style was hugely criticised, Mustafizur Rahman hit back with a bang by demonstrating some of his old tricks to limit the damage as Australia were on course of a big lead.

Australia’s lead now stand 72 with just one wicket at hands but it could have been bigger than anticipation had Mustafizur not showed his glimpse of his talent on his birthday.

Mustafizur gave the side the vital breakthrough by dismissing David Warner who was playing the innings of his life. Warner’s dismissal literally brought the host back into the game.

Knowing Warner’s tendency to pull anything short it was a smart move by the captain Mushfiqur Rahim to keep a leg gully and Mustafizur managed to tempt the batsmen by coming up with another back-bender, throwing up the bouncer, at a nice height as well, one that forces Warner to play at it.

Mushfiqur Rahim however also learnt from his mistakes of the second day and showed some imaginative captaincy.

The Warner wicket was crucial for the team but was even more important for Mustafizur as it helped him regain his confidence back as that appeared to be the missing link.

“I am not used to throw up bouncer. In my little career, I didn’t do it often but now I am trying to give one or two bouncer in good area to unsettle the batsman,” Mustafizur said.

It would have been an icing on the cake if Mehedi Hasan did not dropped Glenn Maxwell at gully but despite that the Fizz, as he is adorably called, came up with some fine deliveries to trouble the opponent batsmen in a relatively flat track.

What was more encouraging to see is the way he bowled -- coming close to the wicket on most occasions knowing that his method of trying to bowl away from the wicket wouldn’t be fruitful. Since his return post-shoulder surgery following a dream debut, batsmen have been able to pick his variations and the economy rates have also been on the higher end than usual.

And since his comeback, Mustafizur hasn't been able to win a match for his side on his own terms - something which he used to do in the earlier part of his career through his mysterious cutters and slower deliveries.

“Always I can’t take wickets with cutters and slower. The batsmen seemed to decode those. Now I know I have to come up with some more weapons. And that’s what I am trying now,” he remarked.

In the opening Test match against Australia he bowled only one over in the second innings following his first innings spell that was comprised with eight over and on both occasion he went wicket-less.

His inability to bowl like the past did not take long for team management to get impatient and  their anxiety reached such a height that before the second Test match Taskin Ahmed was asked to be mentally prepared.   

The dip of form prompted the management to make a change but however in the last minute they decided to give Fizz another chance to showcase his talent.

Mustafizur, who opened his account on the second day of the second Test match, can call himself lucky as Mushfiqur Rahim held a brilliant catch to get rid of Matt Renshaw.

Coming close to wicket helped him angle the ball closer to the batsman and that seemed to have worked as that could not hit him like before when he bowled away from the wicket and pitching the ball wider at the fifth or sixth stump. Mustafizur bowled two spell of five over each and he came up with another beauty when he removed Cartwright in his second spell by trapping him leg before. And last but not the least, he increased his pace on day three what also helped him to trouble the batsmen.

“There is still some problem in my line and length which I tried to overcome.  I am however satisfied with the pace with which I bowled today,” Mustafizur opined.

Despite Australia taking a 72-run lead, Mustazifur believed that Bangladesh would win the match should their batsmen play to their potential in the second innings.

‘We’ve to take the only wicket that have now and then our players should play to their potential. If we can give them a big target, it is possible to win the match.”

SCOREBOARD

Bangladesh first innings 305
Australia first innings (Overnight 225-2)
M Renshaw c Mushfiqur b Mustafizur    4
D Warner c Kayes b Mustafizur     123    
S Smith b Taijul     58
P Handscomb run out     82
G Maxwell c Mushfiqur b Mehedi     38
H Cartwright c Soumya b Mehedi     18
M Wade lbw Mustafizur     8
An Agar b Shakib     22
P Cummins lbw Mehedi     4
S O'Keefe not out     8
N Lyon not out     0
Extras (8b, 1w, 3lb)    12
Total ( for 9 in 118 overs)    377
BOWLING    O    M    R    W
Mehedi    38    6    93    3
Mustafizur     20    2    84    3
Shakib    30    2    82    1
Taijul     21    1    78    1
Nasir     6    2    14    0
Mominul    2    0    6    0
Sabbir     1    0    9    0

Mustafiz celebrates birthday in great style

Fizz wants to add new weapons with cutters and slowers

A day after his body language and bowling style was hugely criticised, Mustafizur Rahman hit back with a bang by demonstrating some of his old tricks to limit the damage as Australia were on course of a big lead. Australias lead now stand 72 with just one wicket at hands but it could have been bigger than anticipation had Mustafizur not showed his glimpse of his talent on his birthday. Mustafizur gave the side the vital breakthrough by dismissing David Warner who was playing the innings of his life. Warners dismissal literally brought the host back into the game. Knowing Warners tendency to pull anything short it was a smart move by the captain Mushfiqur Rahim to keep a leg gully and Mustafizur managed to tempt the batsmen by coming up with another back-bender, throwing up the bouncer, at a nice height as well, one that forces Warner to play at it. Mushfiqur Rahim however also learnt from his mistakes of the second day and showed some imaginative captaincy. The Warner wicket was crucial for the team but was even more important for Mustafizur as it helped him regain his confidence back as that appeared to be the missing link. I am not used to throw up bouncer. In my little career, I didnt do it often but now I am trying to give one or two bouncer in good area to unsettle the batsman, Mustafizur said. It would have been an icing on the cake if Mehedi Hasan did not dropped Glenn Maxwell at gully but despite that the Fizz, as he is adorably called, came up with some fine deliveries to trouble the opponent batsmen in a relatively flat track. What was more encouraging to see is the way he bowled -- coming close to the wicket on most occasions knowing that his method of trying to bowl away from the wicket wouldnt be fruitful. Since his return post-shoulder surgery following a dream debut, batsmen have been able to pick his variations and the economy rates have also been on the higher end than usual. And since his comeback, Mustafizur hasnt been able to win a match for his side on his own terms - something which he used to do in the earlier part of his career through his mysterious cutters and slower deliveries. Always I cant take wickets with cutters and slower. The batsmen seemed to decode those. Now I know I have to come up with some more weapons. And thats what I am trying now, he remarked. In the opening Test match against Australia he bowled only one over in the second innings following his first innings spell that was comprised with eight over and on both occasion he went wicket-less. His inability to bowl like the past did not take long for team management to get impatient and their anxiety reached such a height that before the second Test match Taskin Ahmed was asked to be mentally prepared. The dip of form prompted the management to make a change but however in the last minute they decided to give Fizz another chance to showcase his talent. Mustafizur, who opened his account on the second day of the second Test match, can call himself lucky as Mushfiqur Rahim held a brilliant catch to get rid of Matt Renshaw. Coming close to wicket helped him angle the ball closer to the batsman and that seemed to have worked as that could not hit him like before when he bowled away from the wicket and pitching the ball wider at the fifth or sixth stump. Mustafizur bowled two spell of five over each and he came up with another beauty when he removed Cartwright in his second spell by trapping him leg before. And last but not the least, he increased his pace on day three what also helped him to trouble the batsmen. There is still some problem in my line and length which I tried to overcome. I am however satisfied with the pace with which I bowled today, Mustafizur opined. Despite Australia taking a 72-run lead, Mustazifur believed that Bangladesh would win the match should their batsmen play to their potential in the second innings. Weve to take the only wicket that have now and then our players should play to their potential. If we can give them a big target, it is possible to win the match. SCOREBOARD Bangladesh first innings 305 Australia first innings (Overnight 225-2) M Renshaw c Mushfiqur b Mustafizur 4 D Warner c Kayes b Mustafizur 123 S Smith b Taijul 58 P Handscomb run out 82 G Maxwell c Mushfiqur b Mehedi 38 H Cartwright c Soumya b Mehedi 18 M Wade lbw Mustafizur 8 An Agar b Shakib 22 P Cummins lbw Mehedi 4 S OKeefe not out 8 N Lyon not out 0 Extras (8b, 1w, 3lb) 12 Total ( for 9 in 118 overs) 377 BOWLING O M R W Mehedi 38 6 93 3 Mustafizur 20 2 84 3 Shakib 30 2 82 1 Taijul 21 1 78 1 Nasir 6 2 14 0 Mominul 2 0 6 0 Sabbir 1 0 9 0