‘You must understand your role’

Bangladesh's pace bowling department has been one of the chief concerns in all formats of the game and despite a lot of chopping and changing, especially in Tests, the Tigers are yet to find stability and get things right.

Although Bangladesh's recent showing in the longest format have been abysmal -- the Tigers lost all six of their last Tests, five of them by an innings -- Abu Jayed has been able to come up with decent performances during the bleak period.

Since 2019, Jayed featured in five of the six Tests Tigers played, only being dropped for the home Test against Afghanistan in September, when Bangladesh opted for four spinners and no specialist fast bowler. In those games, the 26-year old was the Tigers' leading wicket-taker, with 12 to his name at an economy of 3.77.

And with selectors emphasising 'continuity', Jayed will likely be a key figure in the Tigers' line-up for the lone Zimbabwe Test, scheduled to begin from February 22.

The 26-year-old, who relies on his line and length, is also the only player in the current squad with ability to swing both ways, but he said that Test matches demand different things from a player.

"It depends on game situation. There will be times when I will need to take a wicket and not worry about runs. If the captain thinks we do not need wickets but to maintain an economy rate, then I need to ensure that I am bowling in the right areas," Jayed said after the Tigers' practice at the outer nets in Mirpur yesterday.

The way Jayed emphasised on playing a certain role in a game shows why the right-armer has been successful in recent times.

"You need to understand your role in the team. If the wicket is not friendly and spinners are not getting wickets and there is a set batsman, then our job is to bowl at economically for four-five overs. That might help spinners take the wicket. It creates chances. That's the role you have to play when the wicket is flat," said Jayed.

However, Jayed who has just played eight Tests, understood that he had a long way to go before becoming a leading cricketer for Bangladesh. And maybe that is the mentality a player needs to possess in a team that has been emphasising 'continuity'.