Bangladesh’s batting coach, David Hemp, has raised concerns about the team’s inability to capitalize on initial promising starts, referring to it as a persistent issue that could hamper their performance in crucial matches. His comments came after Bangladesh’s openers, Zakir Hasan and Shadman Islam, failed to convert their solid beginnings into substantial innings during the second innings of their chase of a massive 515-run target.
Hemp noted that both Zakir and Shadman looked poised to provide a strong foundation for the tourists with their half-century stand, scoring 33 and 35 respectively, but poor shot selection led to their downfall. This trend has been a recurring problem for the Bangladesh team, and Hemp believes addressing it is crucial for future successes.
“It is something that we talk about often. Starting well is important, and once you’ve faced 20-30 balls, you start to get a sense of the conditions. At that point, especially once you have scored 30-40 runs, you need to push on. You have generally done the hard work, so it is essential to make the most of it,” Hemp articulated at a press conference following the match.
He elaborated that the team has made progress between March and now, but sustained effort is needed. “We did this in patches during the Pakistan series, and we have been discussing and working on it in our practice sessions. We need to get ourselves in, and that’s something we’ve struggled with in the past,” he added.
Furthermore, he emphasized the notion that a strong start should ideally translate into facing a higher number of deliveries, which guarantees a bigger reward. “From 40-60 balls, ideally, you want to be batting for 120 balls. Doing so ensures that you walk away with a reasonable return,” he continued.
Hemp also addressed a strategic point concerning the composition of the batting lineup. The current squad features four left-handed batsmen in the top order, which he acknowledges could be advantageous for opponent bowlers who don’t need to alter their lines significantly.
“Yes, from a bowling line perspective, having similar lines can make it easier, but each batsman has individual strengths and scores off different lengths. The preference for having varied batting orders is more prevalent in one-day cricket, but I don’t think it is a pressing issue for us in the longer format,” Hemp explained.
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Reflecting on missed opportunities, Hemp expressed regret over not managing to bat long on a wicket that appeared to become easier for the batters over time. However, he maintained an optimistic outlook, emphasizing the need to focus on playing positively.
“India has won 17 consecutive Test series at home. They are a formidable side globally, more so on their home turf. We discussed the need to seize the opportunities presented to us, as competing without that mindset would be futile,” Hemp stated.
Acknowledging the inherent challenges, Hemp encouraged focusing on their strengths and understanding how to impact the game positively. “There are threats, but also opportunities. It’s about capitalizing on our strengths and, for instance, nullifying bowlers at specific times while staying aware of field placements to prevent them from finding a rhythm,” he said.
Hemp pointed out that the key to challenging top-ranked teams like India, England, and Australia lies in maintaining a scoring mindset. According to him, even the best bowlers make mistakes, and teams that aren’t looking to score miss out on potential runs. “If we are to challenge the top teams, we need to have the correct mindset,” he asserted.
As the match progressed, Hemp assessed the wicket as still being favorable for batting despite some instances where Indian spinner Ashwin managed to generate significant bounce. He remained hopeful, urging his team to approach the next day’s play with confidence despite the challenging 360-run target.
“In terms of the wicket, it’s still good for batting. Today, we saw Ashwin get a couple of balls to bounce significantly, but it’s still a surface where runs can be scored. Tomorrow presents a reasonable batting day for us. Let’s see what happens,” Hemp concluded.
Bangladesh’s ability to adapt and improve upon these batting concerns will undoubtedly play a crucial role in their future performances against dominating cricketing powerhouses.