Shanto is trying to improve his game: Bangladesh batting coach
Bangladesh cricket team batting coach, David Hemp, has expressed his confidence in Test captain Najmul Hossain Shanto's ability to handle the pressures of leadership. Despite a disappointing performance against Sri Lanka earlier this year and a lackluster tour of Pakistan, Hemp believes that Shanto's game is not being negatively impacted by his captaincy duties. He emphasized that leading an international team is challenging due to high demand and multiple responsibilities.
Shanto's approach in last Test was excellent: Hemp
Hemp praised Shanto's approach in the recent Test against Pakistan, stating that he doesn't personally believe captaincy is affecting his game. "He's training well. He's trying to improve his game," Hemp told Cricbuzz. The coach also suggested that a significant improvement in Shanto's performance could be just around the corner, saying, "He is just one innings away."
Hemp lauds Bangladesh's batting unit for consistent decision-making
Hemp praised the impressive performance of the Bangladesh batting team during their tour of Pakistan. He highlighted their clear and consistent decision-making as a key factor in their success. "Overall, I think across both Tests our decision making as a group was pretty consistent," he said. The coach also emphasized the importance of maintaining a scoring mentality while understanding threats from opposition bowlers.
Hemp prepares team for challenging Indian tour
Looking ahead to the challenging Indian tour, Hemp urged his team to carry forward the confidence and lessons learned from their Pakistan series. He acknowledged India's strength as a formidable home team with world-class players. "We know it will be difficult, but we've got to trust ourselves and believe that we can go there and certainly put India under pressure," Hemp said. Bangladesh have never won a Test match against India.
Shanto's Test numbers for Bangladesh
As per ESPNcricinfo, Shanto has featured in two matches against India and has managed 96 runs at 24. His highest score is 67. The batter has featured in 13 away matches (home of opposition) and has scored 781 runs at an average of 32.54. Overall, the Bangladesh skipper has featured in 29 Tests amassing 1,539 runs at 28.50. He also owns five tons and three fifties, with a highest score of 163.
Shanto's recent performances with the bat
During the two-Test series against Sri Lanka in March, Shanto managed 32 runs in both matches respectively, hitting just two boundaries in total. He averaged eight. Meanwhile, in their recent series win against Pakistan, the batter scored 16 off 42 during the first innings of the first Test, smashing only one boundary. In the second match, he recorded 42 runs in total, hitting just five boundaries. He managed 58 runs in three innings averaging 19.33.
