'Test cricket not rocket science'
Perhaps it was because he is Bangladesh's first ever English coach and is influenced by the cricketing culture of his country that prioritises Tests cricket, but there was a definite focus on the original format of the game during Steve Rhodes's first press conference at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur yesterday.
During the three-year tenure of former coach Chandika Hathurusingha, the focus was more on the shorter formats and when it came to Test cricket there were some short-term solutions, but even those were generally tailored for matches on home soil.
Perhaps the focus on Test cricket came about because the coach's first assignment is to be a two-Test series in West Indies next month, and there was no mention from reporters of the recent 3-0 loss to Afghanistan in T20Is. Test cricket is a format where Bangladesh are yet to show sustained high performance, especially overseas, and Rhodes seemed genuinely enthused about the job at hand.
"Test matches are not complicated. In trying to win a Test match you need to get off to a good start -- there're ways of winning without that good start. It's not rocket science; it's about getting out of the tracks, building a good score and bowling the opposition out. And dominating the game; really trying our best to not let the opposition back in. They are all ideas and ways of playing Test cricket," Rhodes told the media.
"Now I've become a Tiger -- I know that might be the headline for you guys. But I have played cricket for a long time and coached for a long time, but whatever team you are involved with you wholeheartedly put all your efforts into winning. If that's against England in a World Cup, that's fantastic. Now I think it's the right time for Steve Rhodes to become a Tiger."
When asked what his immediate impact would be Rhodes emphasised on playing as a unit to become a strong team in the future. On the upcoming West Indies tour, Rhodes did not hesitate to label the Tigers 'underdogs'.
"The team should be ready to face some fast bowling on quick pitches. That's certainly going to be in our preparations. Cricket can get complicated but [we are] trying to keep it as simple as possible and making sure we do the basics well, because if we do that we will be really challenging and as you said before, West Indies are in a good place at the moment. If that makes us the underdogs, then [it's] fantastic. Let the underdog win," Rhodes said.
He also mentioned that missing out on pacer Mustafizur Rahman's services will be a crucial blow on the upcoming tour but also added that it will be a great opportunity for the others to deliver.
Rhodes had a short 15-minute chat with his new charges ahead of his first training session, apart from Test skipper Shakib Al Hasan who is now in the United States and will join the side in the Caribbean later on.