More records in the offing?
Never really comfortable in the spotlight, Taijul Islam has been thrust into it because of his sublime performances in the three innings so far in the two-Test series against Zimbabwe. Having picked up his third five-wicket haul on the trot -- the third Bangladesh bowler to do so after fellow left-arm spinners Shakib Al Hasan and Enamul Haque Jnr -- yesterday on the third day of the second Test, Taijul stands on the cusp of setting some records for the two-Test series.
With 16 wickets so far, Taijul needs four more in Zimbabwe's second innings to go past Mehedi Hasan Miraz's 19 against England in 2016 to become Bangladesh's highest wicket-taker in a two-Test series. He needs seven to go past the recently retired gold standard of left-arm spinners, Sri Lanka's Rangana Herath, to have the overall record for two-Test series. If he does that, and a Taijul five-for or above seems par for the course by now, he will also be the only Bangladesh bowler to bag four consecutive five-fors in Tests.
Although not seeming overly excited about records during the official post-day press conference, Taijul -- with a glint in his eye -- did ask about exactly what records are in the offing and went off smiling, perhaps a hint that he thought they were attainable.
"The wicket is such that if we can stick to our disciplines and bowl in good areas, then it is possible. Nothing is impossible, so I am keeping my hopes up," he said during the presser when asked about the records.
His shy demeanour in front of the microphone hides a keen cricketing brain. In the absence of lead spinner Shakib, Taijul has truly come into his own, using the extra overs to work out the batsmen with his subtle variations.
"Speaking of extra satisfaction, maybe I am getting more opportunities to bowl," he said when asked about excelling now that he was temporarily out of Shakib's shadow. "Maybe if Shakib bhai was there I wouldn't have had so much responsibility. But I am enjoying it."
"I tried to bowl flatter and quicker in the morning because the pitch was not taking much turn," Taijul said later, opening up more than he allows himself in the public glare. "Then, in the afternoon session after the sun dried the pitch I gave it more air and bowled slower. I still think that I gave away too many runs."
This regret after taking five for 103 in 40.3 overs says much about the will to improve that has made Taijul the highest wicket-taker among Bangladesh bowlers -- with 85 -- since his debut in 2014.
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