Daily Times

DHAKA: The BCB is considering appointing a batting coach specifically for Test cricket. Neil McKenzie’s availability being limited only to white-ball cricket has prompted the board to look for a specialised coach, according to the BCB’s chief executive Nizamuddin Chowdhury. “Neil is a white ball batting coach up to the 2019 World Cup but we need someone for red-ball cricket,” Chowdhury said. “We preferred Neil to also look after red ball cricket, but he is not available. Most of the assignments to the new members of the coaching staff we have given are World Cup targeted, but we are considering someone who can help out in red ball cricket as well as do other work. We have asked our contacts to talk to coaches. Gary Kirsten is also in our assistance process.”

The BCB’s search is justifiable: Bangladesh averaged 202 runs per Test innings in the last 12 months, and haven’t surpassed 200 in an innings in the last three Tests. Their batting debacles on their last two tours – to West Indies this summer and South Africa last year – suggest that as far as Test match batting is concerned, Bangladesh have a problem on their hands. In contrast, almost the same set of batsmen performed better in ODIs, as was seen during the West Indies tour when they won the ODI and T20I series after being swept aside in the Tests. England currently are the only international side with format-specific batting coaches: Graham Thorpe for ODIs and T20s and Mark Ramprakash for Tests.

Meanwhile, the BCB will also face a decision next month about Sunil Joshi’s tenure as spin bowling coach, which ends after the Asia Cup. He was appointed in August last year. “The current spin coach’s contract is till the end of September, which means up to the Asia Cup. The board’s policy will decide on the spin coach. We will make a move as soon as we get a directive,” said Chowdhury.

Published in Daily Times, August 27^th 2018.