The focus was on Rishad Hossain, who stole the show during the recently finished white-ball tour of New Zealand, earning acclaim from Bangladesh’s head coach Chandika Hathurusingha.
“I believe Rishad is another benefit (of the white-ball trip of New Zealand). We were hankering after a leg spinner so we could play limited overs cricket with him. I believe he came out with flying colors,” Hathurusingha said on December 31st to media in Mount Maunganui.
The leg spinner’s ability to tie down hitters and reveal some of the variations he recently introduced to his repertoire by changing his action definitely gave glimpses of his bowling talent against New Zealand.
Mahbub Ali Zaki, the BCB’s game development coach, said Cricbuzz, “I worked with his bowling action.” “All I asked him to do was turn a delivery or two. Like Anil Kumble, he used to deliver the ball from the top, but when he did so, the ball could not maintain the shape needed for leg spin. Rather, it turned into googly or top spin.”
“His googly turned out to be his main strength, so I basically advised him to try two leg spins and four googlies in an over. Recall that Likhon (Jubair) was a googly expert, and that his googly suffered when he attempted to acquire leg spin. I merely concentrated on helping him bowl three or four googlies and one or two leg spin deliveries to get the proper balance in his game. He said, “To be honest, he can’t turn the ball that much.
“He will not be able to spin the ball if he cannot bowl a little slowly. I simply attempted to lock the arm that isn’t used for bowling for a little moment, which gave him some more time to arrange his strokes. It takes time to roll the wrist. He said, “I only urged him to try a leg spin or two since that will help him become a better bowler.
His bowling approach has drastically changed, as the 6-foot-1-inch bowler appeared to rely more on pace variety.
Whether there is room to develop a leg spinner is the age-old question in Bangladeshi cricket. Leg spinners aren’t getting the attention they deserve from coaches and other stakeholders in the domestic circuit, despite BCB’s best efforts to promote them.
Rishad has participated in 19 first-class matches over the past five years in addition to five list A games, which have included two ODIs and 20 T20s (including six T20Is). Rishad participated in just two games for Abahani Limited in the most recent Dhaka Premier League, the nation’s customary list A competition.
Comilla Victorians selected Rishad for the Bangladesh Premier League, the nation’s only franchise-based Twenty20 competition. His spot in the starting lineup cannot be guaranteed by the four-time BPL champions.
“Everyone on my team is capable of playing, but their position is not guaranteed. A player will adjust their play to the team’s balance. Coach of the Victorians, Mohammad Salahuddin, told Cricbuzz, “I think we have spinners from abroad like Sunil Narine and Noor Ahmed along with Tanveer who performed well last time.”
“Look we are fighting for championship and whoever performs will play but if you insist that whether we will be inclined to promote any cricketer in that case I cannot say anything because it will be cut throat competition and only the fittest will survive,” he said.
It will be interesting to watch if Rishad’s revamped bowling motion pays off. Perhaps Bangladesh’s wickets are not exactly on your side.
“To be honest, it is difficult for a leg spinner who generates fly in Bangladesh. I think this makes sense—when we play domestic cricket, we cannot afford leg spinners because the ground is fatigued, which suits finger spinners more than wrist spinners. History reveals that while Shane Warne was unsuccessful in this particular match, leg spinners like Rashid Khan and Shahid Afridi were successful since they were known for their quick bowling and the pitch helped them do so,” Salahuddin added.
Although Rishad performed well in New Zealand, a member of the Bangladesh team management informed Cricbuzz, on condition of anonymity, that he was a better bowler in the past, and it is still unclear how he will perform in the days ahead.
“Rishad was a far better bowler when he first arrived than he is now. A player must be developed without losing his uniqueness. He bowls like a Kumble, bowling quickly and with minimal turn, but when we tried to turn him into an orthodox leg spinner, his action also changed.
“The issue is that he is attempting to bowl by offering some flight, which goes against who he is. The member who closely works with the Bangladesh team stated, “Let’s face it, he is not an orthodox leg spinner and we must allow him to play to his strength. He also added that he is unsure of how he will be treated in the domestic circuit as he feels that a leg spinner in this part of the world is playing a game thinking that it is his last game.
Nazmul Abedin, a well-known coach in Bangladesh, has a different take on Rishad and his goals for domestic cricket.
The coach of some of Bangladesh’s top players, including Shakib Al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim, stated, “I think if someone (coach) is brave enough to make him play and guide him, that will be beneficial for his team.”
