Consistency call of the day

McKenzie urges team to play fearless cricket

Bangladesh’s batting consultant, Neil McKenzie, said he and the other members of the coaching staff are attempting to instill the intent of playing “fearless cricket” in the players’ mentality.

McKenzie also said what is also essential and much-needed for the Bangladesh team and its players at this moment is to be a bit more consistent to build up their innings.

“There’s lot of inexperience in the squad at the moment. We knew that was going to be the case before we got there, but still it is disappointing. I think we missed out on a good start the other day. What’s been disappointing for me has been the intent,” said McKenzie, who is currently working with Ryan Cook and Champaka Ramanayaka to prepare some potential Test players ahead of the back-to-back Test series against Pakistan and Zimbabwe.

“We’ve been working so hard in the last couple of years on rotation of strike, putting the bowler under pressure, where you are standing, making him bowl to where you want him to bowl, but I haven’t seen too much of those in the last T20s,” McKenzie told media-persons during a gap in their practice session at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur yesterday.

“The intent, looking to be a little bit more hungry, really playing with that ‘no fear’ that Russell and everybody tries to instill in the players. It is human nature. You’ve a few young guys and some guys who are getting back. There’s a lot of pressure on the guys to perform and stay in the side, which is understandable, but hopefully they all understand that they are getting the backing from all the selectors and coach. They just have to go out there and play,” he added.

Noticing the mentality of the guys, who are glad to play the next game when they get a 40 or 60, the South African coach said that they are trying to bring them out of such a wrong mentality that they are now displaying.

“I think there’s an improvement. I think the turnover of players—by which I mean there have been a lot of players in my tenure here—is still too high for my liking. It just looks like no-one is jumping out of the box—we need someone like Naim. He got a great 80 in India. He struggled the other day and he got a 40-odd, but we need more consistent innings like that from the Bangladesh batsmen,” he opined.

“There’s no doubt that Bangladesh is full of very talented cricketers, but we need a little bit more consistency. I want someone to be selfish in terms of winning games for the side. Not selfish for their own sake. Selfish for not giving it away. If I have an 80, why can’t I follow it up with a hundred, 140 or 200?” he asked.

“A little bit more hunger for that consistency. A lot of the time, guys are happy to play the next game if you get a 40 or 60. It’s the wrong mentality. I want the guys to try to be the best in the world, or be the best Bangladesh batsman. I think that’s what we’re trying to instill. We’re making progress. But it’s been a little bit frustrating,” he added.

Consistency call of the day

McKenzie urges team to play fearless cricket

Bangladeshs batting consultant, Neil McKenzie, said he and the other members of the coaching staff are attempting to instill the intent of playing fearless cricket in the players mentality. McKenzie also said what is also essential and much-needed for the Bangladesh team and its players at this moment is to be a bit more consistent to build up their innings. Theres lot of inexperience in the squad at the moment. We knew that was going to be the case before we got there, but still it is disappointing. I think we missed out on a good start the other day. Whats been disappointing for me has been the intent, said McKenzie, who is currently working with Ryan Cook and Champaka Ramanayaka to prepare some potential Test players ahead of the back-to-back Test series against Pakistan and Zimbabwe. Weve been working so hard in the last couple of years on rotation of strike, putting the bowler under pressure, where you are standing, making him bowl to where you want him to bowl, but I havent seen too much of those in the last T20s, McKenzie told media-persons during a gap in their practice session at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur yesterday. The intent, looking to be a little bit more hungry, really playing with that no fear that Russell and everybody tries to instill in the players. It is human nature. Youve a few young guys and some guys who are getting back. Theres a lot of pressure on the guys to perform and stay in the side, which is understandable, but hopefully they all understand that they are getting the backing from all the selectors and coach. They just have to go out there and play, he added. Noticing the mentality of the guys, who are glad to play the next game when they get a 40 or 60, the South African coach said that they are trying to bring them out of such a wrong mentality that they are now displaying. I think theres an improvement. I think the turnover of playersby which I mean there have been a lot of players in my tenure hereis still too high for my liking. It just looks like no-one is jumping out of the boxwe need someone like Naim. He got a great 80 in India. He struggled the other day and he got a 40-odd, but we need more consistent innings like that from the Bangladesh batsmen, he opined. Theres no doubt that Bangladesh is full of very talented cricketers, but we need a little bit more consistency. I want someone to be selfish in terms of winning games for the side. Not selfish for their own sake. Selfish for not giving it away. If I have an 80, why cant I follow it up with a hundred, 140 or 200? he asked. A little bit more hunger for that consistency. A lot of the time, guys are happy to play the next game if you get a 40 or 60. Its the wrong mentality. I want the guys to try to be the best in the world, or be the best Bangladesh batsman. I think thats what were trying to instill. Were making progress. But its been a little bit frustrating, he added.