Taskin hopes to cash in on spinners paradise
Sports Reporter
India is always a nightmare for fast bowlers with little experience. For the four fast bowlers of Bangladeshs squad who have combined 16 Tests under their belt, it would be quite tough to make impact, specially against an inform Indian side who has been so dominant at home soil.
And over the last two years, under the leadership of Virat Kohli they didnt loss any match.
The venue of the only Test, Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium at Hyderabad historically favours the spinners with Ravichandran Ashwin taking 18 wickets in just two matches here to be the highest wicket-taker at this venue. The wicket-chart here is dominated by the spinners with Zahir Khan the only pacer in the top 10 with just four wickets.
Even though the total scenario wasnt too encouraging, Bangladesh fast bowlers were reluctant to give up the hopes, believing the good line and length could be pivotal in checking the flamboyance of the India batsmen.
Though Bangladesh fast bowlers stat in New Zealand didnt look good, most of the time, they bowled well to create a suffocating environment for the batsmen. And it was what gave them an immense confidence ahead of the Test against India. The important thing is to readjust their line and length on the Hyderabad wicket as in New Zealand the ball used to carry to the keeper in good height from the length delivery but here it is a bit slow.
However the two-day warm-up game against the India A team will be a good chance for them to readjust to the sub-continental conditions, said Bangladesh fast bowler Taskin Ahmed.
We are not thinking whether it is a flat wicket or bouncy wicket rather we are focusing on how to bowl in different wickets, he told the reporters after the practice session at Hyderabad yesterday. It is important because we have played in New Zealand while the pitch is different. In New Zealand the ball used to carry to the keeper in good height from the length delivery but here it is a bit slow. The practice match will help us to adapt.
Bangladesh team management called up pacer Abu Jayed Rahi for the practice match only in India with an intention to give some of the fast bowlers a rest ahead of the Test.
Actually sub continent wickets are usually flat and good for batting with some turn in it. Especially the fast bowlers will have to adjust with the line and length because the length will be a bit different from New Zealand. We need to have more variations, he said, adding that reverse swing could be good weapon here.
We are learning about it. In our team we dont have much experienced fast bowlers but still we can do well and we have already proved that, if we can execute our plans we are hopeful because still we are hoping that we can have swing and reverse swing.
To become successful in this sort of wicket, the fast bowlers have to know the art and to their elation, they have a man in Courtney Walsh who in his playing career was devastating in dead pitch.
He is a legend and from him we are trying to learn lots of things. If we dont get something from him it is our bad luck. Actually he is telling me and Rabbi differently because we are different. Someone is swing bowler and others like me is fast bowlers. Taskin however was confident about his bowling action for which he had to appear a bowling test in Brisbane.
I bowled quicker than before in New Zealand. I work hard and pretty confident that I dont have any problem. In our team we have lot of experienced coaching staff and legend like Courtney Walsh told me I am totally alright and I also went to Brisbane for test and it was maximum seven degree and average three degrees so I am confident.
