Batting at three a challenge for nervy Imrul

Bangladesh’s Imrul Kayes is still getting used to batting at three as he is having to adjust his opener’s instincts for a more calm and patient approach.

Sports Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 22 August 2017, 03:02 PM
Updated : 22 August 2017, 04:46 PM

But batting at three in Tests is nothing new for the 30-year-old. It is where Imrul scored his first century after returning to the side in 2014 at the end of a three-year hiatus. He continued batting there for the next three innings.

He returned to the top with a bang when he scored a century against Zimbabwe at the end of that year and followed it up with a 150 against Pakistan in a partnership with Tamim Iqbal in the fourth innings to seal the spot.

In Tests, Bangladesh have employed 25 opening pairs overall. Among them, the Tamim-Imrul pair is a force to reckon with, thanks to highest runs (2205) and average (47.93). They also have the world record for the highest opening stand in the second innings of a Test to their name.

Imrul scored three more fifties in his next seven innings. He hit 71, 53 and 61 in succession on Sri Lanka tour earlier this year.

Having scored 375 runs at 45.87 in their last eight opening stands, Imrul and Tamim remain the first choice to walk into the middle together.

In Bangladesh’s last Test, their milestone 100th game in the illustrious format, he went in at three, making 34 and scoring a duck to at Colombo.

While speaking to reporters after Tuesday’s training, he said Head Coach Chandika Hathurusingha asked him to bat at three.

“I batted at three in the last Test in Sri Lanka. The coach asked me to bat there. I’ve been batting in the nets with that in mind. After opening the batting, it’s difficult to play at three, it’s tough to cope,” he said.

 “When I wait to bat, I feel nervous about when I’ll go out. This needs to be adjusted. If Tamim is brought in at three, he won’t be able to do it. I couldn’t do it once either. But I am having to make do with it for the team."

Mominul Haque is hugely successful batting at four but he eventually became Bangladesh’s first choice at three, which was his position in recent times.

He lost his spot in the team in the Colombo Test after scoring just one half-century in his last six innings. Earlier this week, he was left out of Bangladesh’s 14-man squad for the first Test against Australia.

A day after the decision rocked Bangladesh fans, the classy left-handed batsman, who has 11 consecutive half-centuries to his name, was recalled to replace youngster Mosaddek Hossain who is down with a corneal infection.

If Imrul tastes success at three, Mominul is unlikely to get back at three, though Imrul made no comments about his teammate. He feels healthy competition augurs well positive for the team.

“If there’s more competition, the management is able to pick out the best among them. The others will perform as well and I’ll say it’s good for the team.

“Whether my place at three is permanent or not? Well, nothing like that was said. It depends on how I perform. If I do well, maybe I’ll stay at three, if not, I may even be dropped from the team."

Sri Lanka’s Kumara Sangakkara and India’s Rahul Dravid set the benchmark for batting at three. Imrul draws inspiration from the legends.

Imrul is yet to cement his place permanently among the Tigers’ ranks, though his international career spans almost nine years. He has been in and out of the team due to different reasons. He hopes to come out on top this time.

“Doing badly means I’ll have to leave my place in the team. Returning to the team after that needs a new start. What happened or what could have happened, thinking about those is a waste (of time and energy).

“I think concentrating on the days ahead is better for now.”