Bangladesh batting coach Jamie Siddons said on Wednesday that he is impressed with the way Mushfiqur Rahim batted against Ireland on the second day.
Mushfiqur scored 126 off 166 balls – his 10th Test ton – and added 159 runs with Shakib Al Hasan (87) in their fourth wicket stand to help the hosts take a 155-run lead in their first innings.
“It was amazing. Again, we were in a little bit of trouble with him at the other end and, Mushy generally comes good when the chips are down, he sticks in there 
and makes sure he gets his call for us and gets the score going nicely. Again, he was aggressive when it was required,” Siddons told reporters in Mirpur after the end of the second day’s play.
“When the bad ball was there he (Mushfiqur) put it away. He was very disciplined around his defence and his leaving game and so I was really happy with that.
“In Test Cricket we need to have that,” he said, adding that Shakib must be frustrated to miss his hundred after being well set to get the landmark.
“Yeah, it was a bit frustrating for him. I reckon the bowler changed his tactic, bowled off-spin well outside off and tempted him into that shot. So, he’d be more disappointed than me,” he said.
“I guess he (Shakib) just kept playing the way he wanted to play. I mean, he played the sweep shot quite well throughout the innings, but, with that tactic being employed, it was probably the wrong shot. And you make one mistake when you’re batting and you’re out.
Jamie said that they are trying to play an aggressive brand of cricket while he added that from now onwards they are expecting to put Mehidy Hasan Miraz at seven considering it will allow them to pick at least five regular bowlers in their playing XI.
“Yeah, pretty aggressive I thought. We were served up a few bad balls, so it was good that the boys were ready and willing to put them away. So, the scoring rate went quickly, which took the game forward really fast. Happy with the way we batted,” said Siddons.
“I think Mehidy is a batsman now. A proper all-rounder that bats. He’s proven that in one-day cricket, Test cricket. The 50 he got today was really well timed, aggressive but still working the ones and holding up the end, protecting the bowler at the other end.
“And in one day Cricket, he’s seen as one of our key batters as far as his hitting ability, so, as an all-rounder, He’s sitting beautifully on number seven. I think that’s what’s happening underneath that makes that look a little bit thin,” he concluded.
