Khaled's 20-ball challenge and Ebadat's batting woes
Khaled survived 20 balls. "You've done it, nice batting Khaled. That's what I wanted," Domingo appreciated.
Bangladesh had a pretty good time in ODIs against Windies. The clean sweep was certainly a huge boost after returning to cricket after a long hiatus. Tigers resumed practise ahead of the Test series after resting for a day. On Thursday, the coaches gave extra attention to the tail-enders' batting.
Mushfiqur Rahim and Mohammad Mithun were batting in the west side net of Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram. Ebadat Hossain and Hasan Mahmud were bowling them. Bowling coach Otis Gibson was only to be seen there. Head coach Russell Domingo, fielding coach Ryan Cook were on the other side.
Net practice was also going on there. Domingo and Cook were working with Saif Hasan and Shadman Islam Anik.
After working with two batsmen, they began working with the tail-enders. It started with right-arm pacer Khaled Ahmed.
Domingo aimed at him to enter the net with the bat. "It will work even if you don't play shots, but you have to survive 20 balls," Domingo instructed Khaled.
Khaled started batting, with the challenge of surviving for 20 balls. Domingo and Cook were throwing balls in the thrower. Khaled was struggling with short-balls.
Cook came forward to say, "You have to have plans for playing these short deliveries. When you get a delivery to play a shot, do it. Play according to your plan, and you will be succeded."
Khaled, like an attentive student, listened to Cook. He then defended a few more balls. With 5 balls left, Domingo asked, 'Only 5 balls left son, can you survive ?'
Khaled nodded, he struck the next ball for four. Domingo excited to see the tailender's shot, shouted, "Nice shot."
Khaled survived 20 balls. "You've done it, nice batting Khaled. That's what I wanted," Domingo appreciated.
Mustafizur Rahman was next in line. He was waiting for Khaled to finish. Mustafiz hurried him while batting "Won't you finish?"
"You've done it, Sir! Great batting." Mustafiz joked as Khaled survived 20 balls.
Domingo and Cook then continued with tail-enders. The likes of Ebadat Hossain and Mustafizur Rahman joined in.
Mustafiz came on next. He played a shot after two deliveries and said it was a boundary. But Bangladeshi analyst Srinivasan Chandrasekhar said it was only '2'. Mustafiz did not trust the analyst, the left-arm pacer said, 'What is this! It's a four.'
He then turned to the fielding coach, Cook, and said: "Coach, you support me."
Khaled came on to bat for the second time after Mustafiz was done. He now seemed more confident and started playing big shots now and then. "Khaled, you beauty!" Domingo started praising the right-handed fast bowler after one of his shots. Ryan Cook too loved his batting. He praised him in Bengali saying "Beshi valo, beshi valo."
Although Khaled won the hearts of the coaches, Ebadat was having a hard time in the net. He was struggling and couldn't connect well. Cook then started explaining things to Ebadat. Wicket-keeper batsman Liton Kumar Das too joined in and gave Ebadat few tips.
Nurul Hasan Sohan whispered from the side "Just think Mithun bhai is bowling to you."
Later, left-arm spinner Taijul Islam also joined the net batting. Domingo and Cook spent a long time in the nets with the tailenders. Fielding coach Ryan Cook was seen in the role of batting coach during the batting session. Despite Domingo being there, he was the one who talked more about the batting strategy of the tailenders.
After a while, batting coach John Lewis came in the net. Even then Cook was busy with the skipper Mominul Haque.
