Bangladesh have a bright chance of winning the series with a victory against the touring New Zealand side in the second game of the two-match Test series, said Shane Jurgensen, the head coach of the national team, on Monday. Bangladesh had put on a commendable show in the first Test match in Chittagong to earn a draw and now they hoping to take their game to the next level against the Kiwis to seal a memorable Test series win.
The Tigers’ achievement came through young Sohag Gazi’s historic feat as he scored a century and followed that up with a hat-trick after young left-hander Mominul Haque’s maiden Test century helped them establish their domination in the game.
‘Basically it is a fantastic platform for us as a team as we have got competetion for spots and as a group we have got some good results,’ Jurgensen told New Age on Monday.
‘We have got more players showing the ability to step up and take the responsibility,’ said Jurgensen.
‘Obviously Sakib, Tamim and Mushy [Mushfiq] were taking the major part of the responsibility but in the last 12 months we had seen some young players stepping up in Mominul, Anamul and Gazi that lead towards an exciting time for Bangladesh cricket team,’ he added.
Jurgensen said he is proud of his charges and the way they responded now he is looking to earn a memorable Test series win against the visitors.
‘I am very proud at the way players played the game and we again achieved a really good result as a team,’ said Jurgensen.
‘We batted well despite having some early trouble, thanks to the fantastic performances by Mominul and Gazi,’ said Jurgensen.
‘I am really happy to get a minimum result – a draw – and there is a possibility of achieveing a series win against the New Zealand,’ said the ecstasic Australian coach.
The soft-spoken coach said that despite New Zealand posting a respectble 469 runs in the first innings he was confident that the Tigers would fare equally well during their reply or even put up a better show if they bat to their potential.
‘I was confident that if we batted well then we could score what we have scored and basically that had happened. Perhaps it’s probably not in a way that people would have thought it would happen,’ said Jurgensen.
‘There was a fantastic individual performance of Mominul and Gazi along with Mushy. We were confident that if we can battle we can post a good total,’ he said.
Jurgensen added that he would not like to change the attitude of the players overninght to go for a win in the next Test match, rather would be happy to see if they follow the process in the right way that would guarantee them success.
‘I think it’s a really good opportunity for us to potentially win a series. I have no doubt we played well but you can’t really go and have the attitude of winning,’ said Jurgensen.
‘For me it’s more about the process and if the process is right and we do really good stuff with the bat and ball the result will take care of itself. If we start thinking of a win then that’s the time things can backfire but all the way you have got to be positive,’ he added.
‘After the Eid vacation when we come back we will prepare ourselves for the second Test match and we are in with the possibility of winning the series,’ he said.
‘I don’t think we had that opportunity since I arrived or since we played in Sri Lanka and it will be exciting to be part of the next Test match,’ he added.
Bangladesh team members were given a four-day vacation for Eid-ul-Azha after arriving in Dhaka on October 13 and will start their preparations for the second Test match from October 18.
-With New Age input
