Bangladesh’s fast bowling coach Ottis Gibson felt their bowlers were brilliant with the new ball on the first day of the first Test against New Zealand. He said that despite not having much luck, he is proud of the performance of the bowlers throughout the day.
Bangladesh bowlers started the day well as they found early swing and some seam movement to trouble the New Zealand batsmen. Shoreful Islam got his first breakthrough, with Tom Latham taking a brilliant catch behind the stumps along with Liton Das. Although Islam and Taskin Ahmed troubled Devon Conway and Will Young, they could not stop the two with a 138-run stand. By the end of the day, Bangladesh picked up four more wickets, including Young and Conway, to reduce New Zealand’s modest advantage.
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“I think the fast bowlers bowled well in tough conditions. He worked really hard. Today is hot. I thought we were great with the new ball. We have pitched the ball, swung it and beat the bat on several occasions. We could have taken a few more wickets. We are playing against the best team in the world. A close LBW shoutout was made against Devon Conway. On the second day, it is given. Those are small differences in international cricket. I’m very proud of the way the boys fought and went through the day,” Gibson said in a virtual press conference after the day’s play.
Asked what changed in Bangladesh’s bowling attack, Gibson attributed it to full length bowling, which is the exact opposite of what he bowls in home conditions. He said, ‘We are working a lot on getting the ball to swing. I think you will see that today everyone gets the ball rolling at some point or the other. We bowl from the back length in Bangladesh because we don’t get much swing there. Here, we pitched the ball a lot fuller. We have been working hard since we got off the plane in Christchurch.”
The 52-year-old felt that Ahmed, who didn’t get a wicket despite applying pressure initially, could pick up a few wickets against his name on the second day. “That is Test cricket. That’s what I tell him. You won’t get wickets every day. But tomorrow, five wickets are still to be taken. Maybe by refreshing himself, he can take three or four wickets. He bowled very well today.”
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Gibson signed on stating that the first day’s honors are shared equally between the two teams. “It’s Even-Stevens, I think. We don’t see that much grass so grass is a factor. All the fast bowlers bowled well for them in tough conditions, in foreign conditions and Abadot bowled well too.”
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