‘Need to play well in the first two hours’
Bangladesh Test skipper Shakib Al Hasan said that it will be important for the Tigers to fare well in the first two hours when they face West Indies in the second and series-deciding Test at the Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium in Gros Islet on Friday.
"We had a good training session yesterday. And after a good training session today, we would like to start the game well tomorrow," Shakib said during the pre-match press conference on Thursday.
"We can start by focusing on the first two hours of the game tomorrow. Whatever we do in that period, be it batting or bowling, we need to do well. After that we can play according to the way the situation demands. But first, we need to try and start well in the first two hours of the game," added Shakib.
Bangladesh trail the two-match series 1-0 and it was Windies pacer Kemar Roach who tormented the Tigers' batting line-up the most with off-the-pitch movement and bounce during their seven-wicket defeat in the first Test in Antigua. Shakib, however, hoped that the wicket in Gros Islet will play out differently than it did in Antigua.
"Compared to how it was in Antigua, it will be a better wicket for batters on the opening day [in Gros Islet]. There will be pace and bounce for the pacers. But I don't think the pacers will get as much lateral movement as they did [in Antigua]. But still we can't say anything till we start playing. We will understand how the pitch is behaving 15-20 minutes after we start the game," Shakib opined.
Top-order meltdowns have been a constant feature for this Bangladesh side in recent times. And the 35-year-old all-rounder, who started his third stint as Bangladesh's Test skipper with this series, also hinted that a few changes might be in store for tomorrow's clash.
"We have a few things in mind [regarding changes in the playing eleven]. We will have a meeting after today's training session. After that, we will let all the players know about our decision so that they know who will be playing in tomorrow's game," Shakib said.
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