Bangladeshi cricketers were elated as England decided to go with their scheduled tour against Tigers while the joy became doubled for Test match potentials of the Tigers’ camp as they envisage a chance to get taste of international cricket. Though there are hardly whole sale changes between Bangladesh Test and One Day International squad yet some cricketers are known to be better suited for the longer version games.
Batsman Mominul Haque has already established him as a cricketer suited well in the white dress while there are few more that belong to the same category.
Tigers’ past track record shows batsmen Imrul Kayes and Liton Kumar Das along with left-arm spinner Taijul Islam and pace bowler Mohammad Shohid are only some of the few considered especially for five-day matches.
Tigers don’t get the chance to play Test very often like the way the exercise their opportunity when it comes down to ODI and T201’s largely due to their performance in recent past.
Left-handed Mominul said he is eagerly waiting for the series as it will help him get back some taste of international cricket and he is now putting all his focus into it.
‘Certainly we don’t play Test match as much as we play the other formats and so I feel the challenge is greater for me to do well as the opportunities are limited,’ Mominul told New Age on Saturday.
‘England is considered to be a very formidable side in Test cricket and so need to put all my focus to do well against them.
‘We need to take these chances and prove the world that we are also a capable Test playing nation,’ said the left-hander who is eager to leave behind his mediocre form that he showed during Tigers last Test series.
Imrul Kayes is not ready to put him bracketed only as a Test cricketer but admitted without hesitation that he will be eyeing to make his presence felt if chosen only for Test match.
‘I was in the last ODI squad so don’t consider me only as a Test player,’ said Imrul.
‘But yes it seems my credentials as a Test cricketer is more powerful than as a shorter format player.
‘England do have a formidable bowling attack but I am not sure whether Anderson will be included or not but with him they always come up with attacking brand of bowling.
‘No doubt my skill will be tested but more than that we will be playing Test match after a long gap,’ he said.
Liton, who is yet to flourish according to his potential at international level, said that he is also looking to be geared up to prove his worth, if chosen.
Team management feels Mushfiqur Rahim should only focus on his batting during the Test matches while someone should do the glove-work behind the stump and according to that thinking Liton may get the nod as the wicketkeeper-batsman.
‘I am excited because we will be playing Test cricket after quite some time,’ said Liton, who scored a 50 in July 2015 at home in the first match of the South Africa series, the last one Tigers have played.
‘I enjoyed my limited time in Test cricket so far and hope to continue that in the same manner if chosen against the Englishmen,’ he said.
Left-arm spinner Taijul Islam is relieved that he can come up with some new tricks if he is placed against the visitors.
‘You can only say about me by considering my last Test performance but that happened long time ago, isn’t it,’ said Taijul.
‘I am waiting for this series to come up with some new tricks that I developed during this break,’ he said.
England have the 100 per cent record against Bangladesh in Test cricket as they have won all eight matches that have been played so far between the nations.
-With New Age input
