Bangladesh national team’s bowling coach Courtney Walsh informed there is no concern about Tigers skipper Mahsrafe bin Mortaza’s form with the ball although he has taken only one wicket in six games so far during the ongoing 2019 World Cup.
Bangladesh team are preparing for their next game against India which will be played at Edgbaston, Birmingham on Tuesday.
Bangladesh bowlers need to step up as India are one of the title contenders of the tournament and posses a strong batting line up.
“Wicket is not the key thing. I mean there’s run rate as well. Mashrafe has not got wickets, as we know. A lot of guys play the tournament and don’t get wickets, but his economy rate has been good, he’s bowling well. I am sure the wickets will come. I’m not really concerned about him not getting the wickets, I am more concerned about him keeping it tight and doing the job that he’s been doing. Whenever he strikes up front for us, it’s a big bonus, still two games left and hopefully he can do that,” said Walsh to the media at Birmingham before the practice session on Sunday.
Bangladesh have not get that much success regarding early wickets in opening spells in their six games in the World Cup. Apart from Mahshrafi, the other two pacers- Mustafizur Rahman and Mohammad Saifuddin usually have been more effective with relatively old ball.
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Walsh admitted the seam bolwers need o utilize the wicket more effectively in the next two games if the pitch offers assistance to the bowler early on.
“I think it depends on the surfaces. We play on surfaces where sometimes it is key for them to use the new ball. We have to assess what’s going to happen here in Birmingham. If the wicket is going to turn, it’s best for us to have a spinner bowling early as well, trying to take early wickets. So we’ll have a look at the game to see what the wicket is playing like today in this game (England vs India). But obviously with the new ball if there is going to be any swing or movement, you want the seamers to use it as well. I think it’s on the day, what the surface holds and who can best utilize it,” he added.
Walsh, former West Indies fast bowler and one of the legends in the game, believes Bangladesh have plenty of options in their bowling armory to use the condition and hopes for a better show form the fast bowlers in the next two games.
“Well, we just try to get everybody ready so anybody can bowl with the new ball. We’ve got three seamers playing now, Rubel played a game before, so any of those guys can bowl with the new ball because we have been trying to get them ready for that. So obviously if things are swinging and there’s a bit in the air, then Saifuddin gets a little bit more swing than probably Mustafiz. But Fizz still gets a bit of shape and as you know, Mashrafe is always swinging it around. So it’s always a good option to have, and as I said, it’s just the surface and on the day,” Walsh concluded.
