Bishop reveals how Litton’s ‘Mona Lisa’ moment came about

West Indies commentator Ian Bishop’s description of Litton Kumar Das as an artist painting a “Mona Lisa” with his bat remains one of the most memorable compliments in Bangladesh cricket. The remark came during the 2019 World Cup after the Bangladesh batter produced a stunning unbeaten 94 against the West Indies.

Bishop is back in Dhaka as a commentator for the ongoing two-Test series between Bangladesh and the West Indies. Speaking to reporters at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur on Thursday, the former West Indies cricketer explained how the famous phrase came to him.

Bishop has consistently shown admiration for Bangladesh cricket and its players, but his poetic tribute to Litton's batting has arguably become one of his most celebrated comments about a Tigers player.

The memorable moment took place at Taunton during the 2019 World Cup, when Bangladesh chased down 322 to secure a seven-wicket victory. Shakib Al Hasan led the charge with 124, while Litton played an explosive supporting role, finishing unbeaten on 94 from only 69 deliveries. He also struck West Indies fast bowler Shannon Gabriel for three successive sixes.

Litton's remarkable performance on his World Cup debut drew glowing praise from Bishop, whose Mona Lisa analogy quickly became a talking point among cricket fans.

Asked whether he had prepared the line beforehand or came up with it while watching Litton's elegant strokeplay, Bishop said such remarks usually emerge naturally from a commentator's accumulated knowledge and experiences.

“Just as people learn through school and their experiences in life, we do the same. Our interests extend beyond sport. Reading literature, following other sports and learning about different subjects help build our knowledge. When something extraordinary happens on the field, that knowledge can find expression in a spontaneous comment,” Bishop explained.

He believes that scripting such observations in advance can rob them of their authenticity.

“Over-preparing a comment can make it sound unnatural. It is important for the words to come instinctively, and that ability develops through reading widely, watching different sports and continually learning,” he said.

Bishop also acknowledged the contribution of journalists, saying their reports help commentators understand players' personal journeys and backgrounds.

“The work journalists do is extremely valuable to us. Without your reports, it would be difficult to understand where players come from and what their journeys have been like. I cannot travel to Nahid Rana's village and live there, nor can I do the same in Hasan Mahmud's village. Your reporting allows us to learn about them,” he said.

“I want to thank you for the work you have done. Even if your own organisations do not always recognise your contributions, I will certainly acknowledge and appreciate your efforts.”

Despite his obvious ability, Litton has often faced questions about whether he has fulfilled his potential. His international record includes 3,511 runs in 57 Tests at an average of 36.19, with a highest score of 141. In 104 ODIs, he has scored 2,869 runs at an average of 30.84 and a strike rate of 85.51. He has also accumulated 2,704 runs in 124 T20 internationals.

While expectations have sometimes been higher for his performances in limited-overs cricket, Litton's progress in the longest format has impressed Bishop. The commentator believes that players develop at different stages of their careers, and Litton may be one who has taken longer to mature.

“Litton has steadily improved in Test cricket over the years. I might have expected more from him in white-ball formats, but his progress in Tests deserves recognition. Some cricketers take longer to reach maturity than others.

“He has a range of batting options that he can continue to develop, whether in Test cricket or across all formats. Many players learn to make better use of their abilities as their careers progress,” Bishop said.

The former West Indies star remains convinced that Litton can make a significant contribution to Bangladesh cricket in the years ahead.

“He has plenty to offer Bangladesh. His talent was obvious from the start, and I hope he develops into a world-class batter in the coming years, earning a place among the leading names in international cricket,” Bishop added.