BAN v WI 2018: Shakib Al Hasan in praise of spin arsenal but expects evolution

Bangladesh created history by pulling off their maiden Test victory at home against West Indies, at Chittagong.

The all-round led Bangladesh from the front to a fantastic win | AFP

Captain Shakib Al Hasan has showered huge praise on Bangladesh's spin prowess - debutant Nayeem Hasan, alongside Taijul Islam and Mehdi Hasan - for helping the team pull off a fantastic 64-run victory in the first Test at Chittagong against the West Indies.

On a turner, the game swung fortunes on many occasions but eventually, the final innings target of 204 proved to be too good for the visitors, who succumbed for just 139/10. The spinners ruled the roost, with the left-arm spinner Taijul Islam picking 6/33 from his 11.2 overs.

This becomes Bangladesh's first Test win at home over West Indies.

"We have some quality spinners. When it's difficult to extract help from the wicket, our bowling might not seem to be as effective. But we will do very well when we get some help from the wicket," said Shakib after the match but expressed caution and need to continue getting better, "(Sometimes) a bowler might not get wicket while another bowler is taking wickets at the other end. So to choke the flow of runs from his end and to help his partner in such cases is the kind of mentality we need to develop."

"Our spinners will do much better once they learn to use this game sense and play according to the situations."

"All of our spinners are attacking bowlers. Sometimes it becomes difficult for us to bowl defensively. We have to learn to restrict runs from one end to give the attacking opportunity to the bowler from the other end," he added.

Shakib also talked about Nayeem, who scalped his maiden fifer in Tests in the first innings in a spell of 5/61 and became the youngest bowler to take a five-wicket haul on debut in Tests, at the age of 17 years and 356 days, and said, "The good thing is that having four proper spinners is not reducing the number of batsmen. All of us can come and take wicket at any time. Nayeem bowled brilliantly as a debutant.

"The wicket was not so helpful yesterday, but he bowled very well. I think he has a great future ahead," he emphasized, "But he might need to learn some things very quickly and he will learn it as he continues to play. What I figured out is that he is very brave."

Before showering words of appreciation over the earnest Taijul Islam by saying, "The best thing about him [Taijul] is that he works very hard on his bowling. We had said that he was our best bowler in the first innings despite getting only one wicket. Sometimes it happens that a bowler is bowling well but isn't getting a wicket. We know these things and we appreciate small things in the dressing room."

"I know that the team management and the players will understand it. He bowled brilliantly. I would like him to bowl similarly in the next Test. I hope he gets five wickets in both innings."

Shakib, who is making a comeback after long painful thumb injury, also felt satisfied on the personal front as his contribution of five wickets in the game made him become the first Bangladeshi bowler reach the 200 Test scalps mark. One of the best allrounders in the modern-day game, Shakib also became the quickest to reach 3000 runs and 200 wickets in 54 matches, ahead of Sir Ian Botham in his 55th.

"I wouldn't feel good to reach 200 wickets if we didn't manage to win. So, now I am feeling great. When you win a match, it escalates the level of happiness," he signed off.

Bangladesh now has an unsurpassable 1-0 lead in the two-match series.

The second Test at Mirpur kickstarts on Friday, November 30.

(Inputs from Cricbuzz)

 
 

By Kashish Chadha - 25 Nov, 2018

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