An original
On Tuesday, bowling to Shakib Al Hasan at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium nets during Bangladesh's optional training session, Nayeem Hasan gave ample evidence of why he should be picked for the first Test against West Indies. Most of his deliveries were on a difficult length, leaving the batsman in two minds between playing forward and back. One of the deliveries was the perfect off-spinner's ball to a left-hander and would have hit the top of the off stump if it had not taken the edge of Shakib's bat and cannoned into the back of the net.
Four days later, after coming into the attack as the fourth specialist spinner in the 26th over of West Indies' first innings, Nayeem the understudy trumped his seniors in Shakib, Mehedi Hasan Miraz and Taijul Islam and became the youngest bowler to take five wickets on debut in Test cricket's 141-year history.
"He extracted help from the wicket and that is why he was successful," said respected coach Mohammad Salahuddin, his mentor at Dhaka Premier League club Gazi Group Cricketers. "On this wicket if someone hits the seam, it makes it difficult for the batsmen and he just tried to do that without complicating his bowling.
"He is not a typical Bangladeshi off-spinner because, firstly, he has the height and he can turn the ball to a great extent. He also has the ability to bowl with over-spin. I believe that and the bounce he gets will also help him get some advantage abroad."
Allied to these natural blessings was the clarity of thought that only a young mind with confidence in his abilities can possess. In a limited-overs dominated culture, it would have been very easy -- especially as he stands six feet above ground -- to bowl down and flat, but yesterday he was repeatedly giving the ball air and did not try to do too much more than land it on a consistent, probing line and length. Such a modus operandi has taken him to the top of the wicket charts in the recently concluded National Cricket League.
The exuberance of youth was evident in his bowling yesterday, especially when he picked up his fifth wicket with an off-break bowler's dream -- landing a foot outside off stump, inviting tailender Jomel Warrican's drive and snaking through bat and pad to hit the top of middle, which he identified as his best delivery after the day's play. Added to the exuberance, however, was the steel he showed with the bat the previous day, getting behind the thunderbolts of Shannon Gabriel and not being cowed even after wearing a few on his slender frame.
Both those qualities were on display when asked about the state of the match with Bangladesh effectively 132 for five in the second innings.
"We are not yet all out. If we play well we can take a lead even of 300-350; then again we could be out for fewer than that. If we bowl in the right areas, even a chase of 150 will be difficult for them."
Fans of Bangladesh cricket will hope that Nayeem infects the team with his clear-minded positivity on what will possibly be a pivotal third day. Even if not, they can relish the prospect of having a cricketer with rare talent to nurture for the future.
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