Tigers gauge best of both worlds with team combination

There were a few things floating around the horizon of the one-off Test between Bangladesh and Ireland and once the toss took place, the team’s set-up had a clearer definition, approaching Test cricket with more adventure despite an injury to Taskin Ahmed. There was the curious case of skipper Shakib Al Hasan’s body language in the face of IPL exodus. The end of the day shed light on a few matters.

In the past, the absence of in-form pacer Taskin would propagate a change in plans, but not this time around.

Although the greenish pitch two days before the Test did not have as much grass in the end, the Tigers have historically never prioritised pace. The inclusion of Shoriful Islam in a three-pronged pace attack was perhaps one of the most aggressive selection calls in a home Tests in a while. Over the years, the pace attack has only been really been depended on away from home.

The last time that Bangladesh played three pacers in a home Test was back in 2014 against Sri Lanka. Ebadot Hossain and Shoriful made early inroads and it was apparent that the first hour had help for the trio.

Ireland had seven Test debutants in the side and the team management took the opportunity towards a brave new world, putting in six batters with Mehedi Miraz at number seven capable with the bat.

Bangladesh had made a habit of putting in more batters and depending on their spin trio. This time, they managed to play three spinners — Shakib, Mehedi and Taijul — but did not include Mahmudul Hasan or Shadman Islam to lengthen the batting order. It was the best of both worlds with spin and pace.

“We have a good ODI side but if we are to do well in Tests, I feel playing against a team like this on this kind of surface is perfect. Then we will be able to improve in the future. Maybe when a bigger team comes, it’s natural to take advantages [in terms of conditions] that we get here,” Taijul Islam, who bagged a fifer, said on the team combination at the press conference.

If the idea was to be more aggressive in Tests following a change in approach in ODIs and T20Is, the combination of the team justified the tenability of the idea. It was a refreshing change from always preferring a packed batting order and playing on low-spinning turfs.

Meanwhile, Shakib seemed in another zone completely. The build-up to the game had seen news surface that he was opting out of playing the IPL as the BCB had him earmarked for international assignments.

Despite Taijul bagging a fifer and threatening throughout the day, Shakib only came to the attack in the 66th over of the innings with Ireland seven down. He proceeded to bowl three overs, appearing to do the bare minimum, mostly observing from the slip cordon. At one point, Tamim Iqbal was seen giving instructions on the field.

Asked regarding Shakib not bringing himself on, Taijul said: “He didn’t give any reason. Maybe his idea was to keep bowling us and if we were in trouble maybe he would have bowled.”

Whether Shakib’s demeanour was natural or whether there is a pebble in his shoes cannot be ascertained easily, but going forward, there is something the BCB and the team has to figure out to keep the skipper activated.