Embattled Bangladeshi batsman Imrul Kayes expressed his confidence of performing well in the forthcoming Test series against South Africa, scheduled to start with the first Test at Potchefstroom on Thursday.
Imrul was struggling with his form and fitness since the series against New Zealand in January after scoring only 92 runs at 13.14 in four Test matches that he played.Since 2016, he managed only one half-century (against England in October 2016) and the last time he touched the three-figure mark it was against Pakistan back in April 2015.
In the recent two-Test series against Australia, he scored 0, 2, 4 and 15 in four consecutive innings which made his position vulnerable in the team.
Selectors apparently gave him his final chance to show his skill in South Africa, a place where he made an unassuming debut nine years in 2008 at a Bloemfontein.
He is at the risk of ending his Test career in the same city which will host the second Test of the series from October 6-10.
However, things started to turn positive for Imrul in the three-day warm-up match at Benoni, when he scored 34 and 51 in two innings to give himself some much-needed confidence boost.
‘Scoring runs always gives me extra confidence, no matter where – in the home or abroad – it always boosts me up,’ Imrul told reporters at Potchefstroom on Tuesday.
Showing his satisfaction over the preparation Imrul said, ‘the overall preparation was good, we came here early to adapt to the condition, we played a practice match that boosted up our confidence.’
Imrul struggled against the pace of Pat Cummins and spin of Nathan Lyon against Australia at home but said he was confident to adjust to the bouncy wickets in South Africa.
‘Obviously, there will be bounce in the pitch and we have to accept it,’ he said.
‘I think batting in the Test match will be easier for the batsman because the wicket in the match should be a different one than that was used practice.’ he added.
Imrul has no fear about South African pace bowler also.
‘You see there are differences between playing in nets and in the match. In practice, bowlers used to ball quite freely, but in a match, they feel pressure’.
Away in South Africa Imrul played two Tests in 2008, where he scored 25 runs in four innings.
Bangladesh lost all four Tests in South Africa by an innings margin during their previous two visits in 2002 and 2008.
-With New Age input
