Defensive first, attacking second

Mehidy Hasan Miraz has lifted the curtain on the tactical thinking that guided him to a match-turning five-wicket haul against Pakistan, revealing that he deliberately adopted a defensive, run-saving role in the first innings with the full intention of unleashing himself as an attacking force in the second innings.

The experienced off-spinner claimed his 14th five-wicket haul in Tests as Bangladesh dismissed Pakistan for 386 to secure a 27-run first innings lead in the first Test at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur on Sunday. 

But what made his performance particularly impressive was the discipline he maintained during the long periods when the pitch offered him little assistance.

"On a true wicket like this, especially when it is a pitch favouring pace bowling, my mindset as a spinner is that I will not get help from the surface in the first three days," Miraz explained after the day's play. "If I bowl in good areas and the batter makes a mistake, then I have a chance of taking wickets. My plan was always to look for advantage from day four or five — although sometimes day three also offers something, as it did today," he added.

Miraz was particularly conscious of his responsibility to stem the flow of runs at one end while other bowlers searched for breakthroughs.

"When I came on to bowl, the team was on the back foot. We had conceded a lot of runs and wickets were not falling. My responsibility was to make sure I did not give away runs from my end. If I had been expensive their game would have opened up further and they might have scored another 30 or 40 more. That would have put us in a very difficult position," he noted.

The 28-year old also praised his bowling partnership with Taskin Ahmed as central to Bangladesh's success in the final session, describing how the pair complemented each other from opposite ends.

"Taskin and I bowled very well together from both ends. When he took two wickets I also took two. Our partnership was excellent. When he bowled tight I took wickets, and when I bowled tight he took wickets. In Test cricket if one end is leaking runs you will never take wickets, but when both ends are tight the batter starts searching for runs and that is when mistakes happen," Miraz said.

He also singled out Nahid Rana for praise, saying that the young pacer's contribution was vital even without the reward of wickets.

"Nahid bowled really well. His first couple of spells were a little expensive but we backed him and he gave us a crucial breakthrough. That was very important for us because they had already put on a big partnership," Miraz said.

Looking ahead to the second innings, Miraz gave a clear indication of what Pakistan can expect when he returns to bowl on a deteriorating surface.

"In the second innings I will come as an attacking bowler when the ball is turning. The pitch has been used for three days and two innings now. On days four and five it will be much more difficult. That is when we will take full advantage," he concluded.