Bangladesh’s pace bowling coach Shaun Tait admitted on June 19 that his bowlers could have been more effective with the first new ball as Sri Lanka mounted a strong reply to Bangladesh’s 495. On Day 3 of the first Test in Galle, Sri Lanka finished on 368/4, trailing Bangladesh by 127 runs. The highlight of the Sri Lankan innings was Pathum Nissanka‘s magnificent 187 off 256 balls, which has put Sri Lanka in a commanding position.
Tait Reflects on the New Ball Performance
Tait, who joined the Bangladesh coaching staff as the pace bowling coach, reflected on the lack of incisiveness from the Bangladesh pacers, particularly with the first new ball. Bangladesh’s bowlers struggled to create sustained pressure, as Sri Lanka’s batters comfortably negotiated the early overs.
“It is a good batting wicket. It was difficult conditions for fast bowlers today. They toiled hard. They gave effort. We could have started better with the first new ball. We probably missed out,” said Tait. “They know that. That’s all you can ask for. You bowl on a different day on a different wicket, you get a different result.”
Bangladesh’s bowlers, including Nahid Rana, Hasan Mahmud, and Taijul Islam, failed to capitalize on the new ball and could not trouble Sri Lanka’s openers and middle-order in the way they would have hoped. Tait, however, acknowledged the team’s efforts and pointed out that Test cricket can be unpredictable, with the conditions at Galle not offering much assistance to the bowlers.
“The wicket has stayed similar. It hasn’t changed a great deal,” Tait added. “It probably hasn’t spun as much as maybe people thought it would on the third day. Normally Galle starts to turn a bit more. It turned a little but nothing significant.”
Support for Nahid Rana Amid Disappointing Performance
Despite Nahid Rana conceding 80 runs in 16 overs without picking up a wicket, Tait showed his support for the young bowler. Rana, who has been considered one of Bangladesh’s most promising fast bowling talents, was handed the new ball at the start of the innings but could not break through.
“Anyone that bowls that pace, he should get the new ball from time to time,” Tait said. “I don’t know, going forward, who is going to take the new ball. This is my first Test match (as fast bowling coach). We have two fast bowlers. He has to take the new ball. He is absolutely fine (taking the new ball). I think this is his eighth Test. It is early in his career. He burst onto the scene.”
Tait also addressed the growing expectations surrounding Rana, noting that Bangladesh has not seen a fast bowler as exciting as him in recent years. The young bowler’s early success has garnered significant attention from the media and the public, which has only added pressure.
“There’s a lot of attention and expectation on him. I don’t know if Bangladesh have ever had a fast bowler as exciting as him,” Tait said. “There’s a little bit of pressure on him from the media and public. It is up to me to work through that with him, as the bowling coach. It is not just about the bowling all the time. It is also how you deal with the extra pressure of being a young superstar.”
Nissanka’s Disappointment at Missing a Double Century
Pathum Nissanka was the star of Sri Lanka’s reply to Bangladesh’s 495. However, the opener was disappointed with how he got out, falling just 13 runs short of a double century. Hasan Mahmud, with the second new ball, bowled a superb delivery that breached Nissanka’s defense, ending his marathon innings at 187.
“I was disappointed with the way I got out. I knew I had to see off the new ball, but I thought the shot was on. It was a good piece of bowling as well,” said Nissanka. Despite the disappointment, he acknowledged that cricket is a game of uncertainties, and there’s always a chance for redemption in the next Test.
“There’s always a tomorrow. We have another Test coming and we’ll see,” Nissanka added, showing resilience. “This is my first Test hundred at home so I was very happy to get there. Since scoring a hundred in England, the big runs had eluded me, so I was trying to make the most today.”
Nissanka’s efforts have been crucial in keeping Sri Lanka in the hunt for a competitive first innings total. Along with Dinesh Chandimal (54), who supported Nissanka with a solid knock, Sri Lanka has made substantial progress towards cutting the deficit.
Sri Lanka’s Solid Position Heading into Day 4
As Day 3 ended, Sri Lanka had managed to reach 368/4, with Nissanka’s superb knock being the backbone of their innings. Despite the late wicket of Angelo Mathews, who fell for 39, Sri Lanka remains in a strong position, with Kamindu Mendis and Dhananjaya de Silva at the crease.
Sri Lanka will be hoping to continue their momentum on Day 4, with the opportunity to surpass Bangladesh’s total if they can keep their wickets intact. Bangladesh will need to improve their bowling efforts on Day 4 to keep the pressure on Sri Lanka and ensure they don’t let the hosts build a lead.
Brief Scores:
- Bangladesh: 495 (Mushfiqur Rahim 163, Najmul Hossain Shanto 148, Litton Das 90; Asitha Fernando 4-86, Milan Rathanayake 3-38)
- Sri Lanka: 368/4 (Pathum Nissanka 187, Dinesh Chandimal 54; Mominul Haque 1-24, Hasan Mahmud 1-49)
Sri Lanka trails by 127 runs with six wickets remaining.
