Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto has emphasised their aim to make the most of the Galle pitch before it turns in favour of spinners. Starting Tuesday, the team begins their Test series in Sri Lanka, with both sides hoping to bounce back from recent sub-par performances.
Shanto fondly recalls his maiden Test century in Sri Lanka, a splendid 163 in Pallekele in 2021, and now eagerly anticipates the challenges Galle presents. The venue has been problematic for batters as matches progress; in the past five years, the batting averages have steadily declined from 45.64 on day one to just 20.65 on the fifth. Spinners, meanwhile, have thrived, especially on the third and fourth days, claiming over 100 wickets in tests held there during this period.
“I have some good memories in Kandy, but I want to take the opportunity in Galle,” Shanto remarked. “Playing spin may be challenging, but there’s also a lot of runs in the first two or three days in Galle. We want to take that opportunity. There will be challenges for the batters as spinners take a lot of wickets in this venue. We have to bat well. We are enjoying each other’s company despite all the challenges.”
Shanto also expressed contentment with his squad’s composition, although Mehidy Hasan Miraz’s participation remains uncertain due to illness. A final decision on the starting lineup hinges on Mehidy’s availability.
“Mehidy is still under observation, but his health is improving. A lot depends on his availability,” Shanto stated. “If he is in the team, we can go into the Test with a good combination. I don’t want to reveal where I am going to bat in the Test match. I don’t want my opponent to know. We still have a few things up in the air. Miraz is still not fully well.”
Bangladesh hopes to replicate some of their more recent successes, such as levelling the Test series against Zimbabwe earlier this year. Still, the absence of stalwarts Tamim Iqbal and Shakib Al Hasan continues to pose challenges. With Tamim retired and Shakib available only for limited-overs formats, the team remains in search of a reliable opening pair and consistent middle-order performers.
“They are not in the team for the last two or three years; Shakib bhai and Tamim bhai served Bangladesh cricket for a long time,” Shanto added. “But we don’t want to think about the past. We have some experienced cricketers in the squad. They will do well here. I hope those in the team will get the job done in Sri Lanka.”
The upcoming Test presents an opportunity for Bangladesh to assert themselves early, banking on a solid start on a notoriously challenging pitch.
