Bangladesh captain Najmul Shanto can finally relax after playing a crucial innings of 82 runs in the second innings against India during the opening Test in Chennai. This performance may quiet his critics, at least for the time being.
There had been growing concerns that Najmul was feeling the pressure of captaincy and struggling to balance scoring runs with making important on-field decisions.
Recent Struggles as Captain
These concerns are backed by his recent stats. Since taking on the role of captain before the match against Sri Lanka in February, Najmul had scored only 90 runs in seven innings, with an average of just 12.85, until the game against India. In that match, he finally totaled 102 runs.
Knowing he had to step up before the India tour, Najmul put in extra effort during practice. His dedication has always been noticeable, which gave Bangladesh’s batting coach, David Hemp, confidence that he could turn things around despite his poor form.
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Improved Performance in Chennai
After scoring just 20 runs in the first innings in Chennai, Najmul showed much better form in the second innings. He adjusted well to the game’s pace and played aggressively, using reverse sweeps to reach his first half-century in 11 Test innings.
“I tried to stick to my strengths. I think the way I played is how I handle these conditions and quality spinners,” Najmul said. “Everyone has different strategies. I hope the plans will be different for the next match.“
Though he might feel disappointed for not converting his fifty into a hundred, especially since this is the first time he didn’t reach a century after passing 70 runs, Najmul believes the time spent on the field will help him in the future.
Looking Ahead
“It’s important to spend time at the crease, but today it wasn’t enough. Still, it will help me in the second Test,” Najmul shared. “We tried to contribute as much as we could and bat for as long as possible. That’s one positive takeaway from today’s session. After that, we didn’t bat well, but the bowling was excellent.“
Najmul acknowledged that batting was more difficult later in the innings. “They bowled in the rough, and it became tough. But I don’t want to make excuses. We have to face this challenge.“
Importance of A-Team Tours
Najmul believes that having an A-team tour before a Test series would greatly improve their preparation.
Bangladesh benefited from an A-team tour before the Pakistan series, where several Test players participated in a four-day match and were better prepared for the two Tests.
“Playing A-team series or any kind of preparation matches before a Test will help our batting, bowling, and everything. But it’s up to the boards to arrange that,” he said.
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