ZCZC
BSP-23
CRICKET-WC-BATTING
Smart cricket key to Tigers success in World Cup
DHAKA, April 29, 2019 (BSS)-Bangladesh need to play smart cricket to
survive in the age of power hitting, which is believed to rule the upcoming
ICC Cricket World Cup, given the current nature of the English wicket.
The wicket of England which will host this World Cup of late has shown a
tendency to favour the batsmen, making it a minefield for the bowlers as
score over 300 becomes usual here.
What is disadvantage for Bangladesh is that they have lack of power-
hitter lower down the order or up at the order who could help them to propel
past 300 runs at regular basis.
But team’s senior batsman Mushfiqur Rahim believed they have the ability
to survive should the can play smart cricket.
“We can’t create a Chris Gayle or Keiron Pollard at overnight. We also
can’t produce a bowler like Rashid Khan. What resources we have, we have to
fight with that,” he said.
“We have beaten a team like West Indies in ODI and T20 with these
resources. Mind it, West Indies have the several power hitters under their
kitty and they are world champions in T20 cricket. Still we beat them by
playing smart cricket. We have to use our brain. We can’t hit six like Gayle,
Pollard or Russell but we can hit boundary. Since we are not good power
hitters, we need to find a way to score some 10/15 runs more while we are in
batting.”
Mushfiqur Rahim believes that the running between the wickets will be
crucial for Bangladesh in England World Cup, to find out some extra runs for
the team.
“Strike rotate and strike rate is very important. Remember we lost a
match to England in ICC Champions Trophy in 2017 despite scoring 320 runs. It
proved we needed to pile up 350/360 in that pitch. So it’s important to find
out some extra runs always given the nature of the wicket in England. And we
can do by being serious in running between the wickets. We need to make one
to two, two to three,” he informed.
“Moreover the batsmen who will score 100, he needs to make it sure that
his job is not over. The centurion needs to bat deep to end up 130 or 135.
This is called smart cricket. We need to ensure that we will play smart
cricket because we are not good power hitters like other teams,” Mushfiqur
disclosed.
Mushfiqur, regarded as one of fittest player in Bangladesh’s squad
emphasized on fitness also.
‘Keep you fit is another big thing in a bid to be fast in the cricket
ground. When you will remain fit, you can do your job perfectly,” he signed
off.
BSS/SMP/BZC/2020 hrs