Rhodes looking to lift Test fortunes

So far, I found Shakib [Al Hasan] a brilliant captain to work with, the best tactical captain I have worked with. Mashrafe [Bin Mortaza] is the warrior. Now [Mahmudullah] Riyad is my third one.

Bangladesh head coach 

Steve Rhodes

On his first assignment as Bangladesh head coach, Steve Rhodes witnessed a calamitous collapse that ended in the Tigers being bundled out for just 43 runs -- their lowest ever score in Tests -- in Antigua during the tour of West Indies in July this year.

Despite their rise in ODIs, Bangladesh are yet to adapt to the longest format of the game and Rhodes will surely be looking to improve in this aspect during the two-match Test series against Zimbabwe starting from November 3.

"We have got guys who can get centuries. Mominul [Haque] scored a century in each innings just three Tests ago. We know that people can score runs. We know our spinners are excellent and can cause devastation in the opposition team.

"We also know that we can bowl better and find taller, quicker, hit-the-deck bowlers. It is what we are focusing on. Also, the ability of our batsmen to do well away from home, which might mean some slight tactical and technical tinkers that will make batting easier in those conditions," Rhodes told reporters at the Sylhet International Stadium yesterday.

He also said that he is not looking to change the positive aspects but focusing on enhancing the team's strengths.

Batting has been the biggest concern for the Tigers in Test cricket, but Rhodes believed that his charges have the ability to do better.

"We have had difficult wickets against those oppositions [against whom Bangladesh failed with the bat] and we have also had very difficult wickets in overseas conditions. In Antigua, if we had 11 Ricky Pontings, we might have scratched a 100. It was a difficult pitch and an important toss. While it was a disaster for us, it was extremely difficult conditions.

"I am not making excuses. We could have done better. I am a teacher and it is about trying to make players better. Give us a chance, let's see what happens and how these batsmen go. Hopefully they will prove that they can do it not just in Bangladesh, but abroad as well," he said.

Mahmudullah Riyad, who will lead the Tigers in the Test series, will be the third captain in the Englishman's tenure of five months so far. Rhodes pointed out the difference in nature and style, terming Test and T20I skipper Shakib Al Hasan as the best tactical captain while praising ODI captain Mashrafe Bin Mortaza as a warrior.

He added that working with different captains would be a test of his management skills and emotional intelligence.

Meanwhile, there was a lot of discussion about the pitch of the Sylhet International Stadium, which will become Bangladesh's newest Test venue. Rhodes hinted that the think tank is thinking of preparing a spin-friendly track that will also have something for the seamers.

"Hopefully, it will spin and also something that gives our seam bowlers a chance. We want to see how good they are. When we play away from home, they are forced into Test match cricket not having played much at all. Everything is about getting exposure and experience," said Rhodes.