Mahmudullah Riyad Advocates Attacking Approach Post Series Loss against Sri Lanka

Stand-in captain for Bangladesh, Mahmudullah Riyad, defended the attacking intent from his boys post recent defeat at Dhaka against Sri Lanka. The Tigers managed to survive only 75 overs in the Test match when it was advised to adopt a defensive approach.

Instead, the hosts lost wickets to attacking shots when the need of the hour was to see out spells from Herath and co. As a result, Bangladesh lost the second Test match as well as the series by 1-0.

The designated number six batsman for Bangladesh, however, claims one needs to display positive intent to unsettle the bowlers. According to Mahmudullah, one also needs to be judicious with their shot selection on such wickets.

“If you don’t show intent and remain positive on this type of wicket, if you et the bowlers settle down, you will be in huge trouble. But you have to choose which ball to defend and which to hit. Otherwise, it is tough,” explained Mahmudullah Riyad according to Espncricinfo.

Need to know which ball not to hit: Mahmudullah

“When the ball is spinning, going straight, keeping low and sometimes jumping up, you have to disrupt the bowlers. We had to take a lot of risks to get boundaries off [Rangana] Herath, Dilruwan [Perera] and Akila [Dananjaya],” further added the stand-in captain of Bangladesh.

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The 32-year old further stated spinners should have responded better, but it was the batsmen who were even ‘guiltier’. Out of the eleven, only four batsmen managed to reach a double-digit score.

“Our spinners should have done a little better but our batsmen are guiltier. If you go by that theory [of being defensive], your success rate will be even lower. You can’t play defensively on this wicket according to my knowledge and experience,” ranted the captain of Khulna Titans.

“The bowler will bowl six balls at you and off the seventh ball, you will be nicely caught at slip or in the sillies [silly point]. You have to play your shots. You need to have intent but at the same, you also need to know which ball not to hit,” concluded Mahmudullah Riyad.

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