Ahead of a long test season starting from Friday with a two-match Test series against Pakistan, Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto highlighted the importance of big first innings totals repeatedly as the key to improving his side's overall Test performances in the new ICC World Test Championship cycle, reports Daily Sun.
Bangladesh finished seventh in the last Test championship cycle, winning four of their 12 matches.
The Tigers have already played two Test matches in the new cycle against Sri Lanka, where Shanto's side drew one and lost one.
Now, ahead of their second Test championship series, Bangladesh are determined to post big scores and give their potent bowling attack enough runs and time to take 20 opposition wickets. With that goal in mind, Bangladesh have brought in attacking opener Tanzid Hasan Tamim and middle-order batter Amite Hasan to reinforce the batting unit.
"We had been discussing Tanzid Tamim for a long time. Though the new selector came in and made a very good decision, I think. Personally, I feel the first innings becomes very important for a team, especially in batting, even in bowling. But what I personally want is that on good wickets, if conditions demand big runs, then if we can score 400-plus, that is very good for a team," Shanto said on Thursday when asked about the reasons behind picking Tanzid.
He also backed his first-choice openers Shadman Islam and Mahmudul Hasan Joy and their natural batting approach, while stressing the importance of big first innings totals.
"But one important thing to understand is that everyone has a different style of playing. So I don't want anyone to change their game. Whoever likes to play in a certain way should play that way. The important thing is scoring runs. If we score 400 in 80 overs, no problem. If someone takes 120 overs, I also have no problem. So the runs are important," he explained.
"Basically, I don't want anything extra from Tamim. The way he plays One Day International and T20 cricket, personally I want him to play cricket the same way. And if he plays like that, the team will automatically be in a good position on the day he plays a long innings. So nothing extra. And as I said, scoring runs is important, especially in the first innings. Whether we score 50 in 10 overs, no problem. If we score 20 in 10 overs, I also have no problem. But everyone should play according to their role and in the way they like to play. But a character like Tamim will definitely have an extra impact in the team," he added.
Shanto also shared his vision for the upcoming busy Test season, in which Bangladesh will play 12 Test matches.
"Definitely the pacers will help me as an extra strength because skill-wise they have improved a lot. They are bowling well now in any condition, especially if you look at white-ball cricket. So everyone is in good shape. As a captain, I would want us to win matches at home this year in this two-year cycle. And personally, as a batter, what I want from the team is that we play good cricket in the first innings consistently. So if we can take that challenge properly, I think this cycle will go even better," he said.
Bd-Pratidin English/ AM
