Bangladesh spin bowling coach Rangana Herath said on Monday that they will not restrict their players from giving their hundred percent on the much talked-about outfield at HPCA stadium in Dharamsala as they prepare to take on England in their second game on October 10.
England captain Jos Buttler has expressed his concerns about the state of the outfield and insisted that the outfield is ‘poor’. He also added that having to hold themselves back while fielding in a World Cup game is not ideal.
Herath, however, chose not to bother too much over the outfield that was rated average by ICC following the game between Bangladesh and Afghanistan on October 7. Instead, he insisted that he is happy with whatever is available.
“I think ICC have done a lot of hard work on that. So, in that case, I think they think that because of the standard that they have maintained, they have given that authority to play one day international. So, in that case, I’m happy with it,” Herath told reporters ahead of their game at Dharamsala on Monday.
“Obviously not from the start (I have seen this kind of outfield) sometimes after rain and all so you can get this kind of a field because unless you get a proper hundred percent in that case as I said earlier – if you get a field like international standard, so why we are going to complain about it? So, I’m not up to thinking of that level. So, if it is good for playing international cricket, I’m happy with the decision,” he said before adding that he will urge his charges to give their hundred percent as a fielding unit.
“No, we are not going to restrict anything because if you ask someone to restrict something, in that case they don’t give their 100%. In that case, I’m sure that they did well that previous game and so we are asking to give their best even in the outfield as well,” he said.
Herath added that they are ready to break their winning combination and bring a sixth bowling option if they feel that is required after seeing the wicket.
Bangladesh played with five specialist bowlers against Afghanistan and used Mahmudullah as the sixth bowler but according to sources, there is a discussion among the team management members whether they should stick with it or go with a proper bowling option considering the strength of England’s batting unit.
Furthermore, in the last game Bangladesh found success on the back of six wickets shared by Shakib Al Hasan and Mehedy Hasan, and that is inspiring the team management members to think of adding another slow bowler in their playing XI. Which means a spot for Nasum Ahmed or Shaikh Mahedi. In that case either Mahmudullah or a pacer can pave way for the new inclusion.
“Obviously (I feel we can have sixth bowling option) because we are playing on a different surface, so in that case we need to see the surface first, then we can decide.”
“It’s all up to the conditions and I’m sure if you really needed another extra option then selectors and the coach, captain, they will have a proper discussion and they will decide tomorrow,” he said adding that he was impressed with the way how the slow bowlers bowled in the last game against Afghanistan.
“To be honest they were 10 out of 10 (Shakib and Mehedy against Afghanistan) because they read the pitch well. So, then they analyzed which line and which length that they needed to bowl. And they had a very attacking field setting as well. So, in that case, I’m 100% happy with how they bowled actually,” he concluded.
