Bangladesh's Shadman Islam Defends Batters After Day 1 Stumbles Against Sri Lanka

Shadman Islam, the opening batsman for Bangladesh, has expressed his support for the team's batting lineup following a lackluster performance on the first day of the second Test match against Sri Lanka.

Shadman top-scored for Bangladesh with 46 on a rain-hit opening day © AFP

Despite promising starts from several batsmen, none were able to convert their innings into substantial scores. This was largely attributed to poor shot selection, resulting in Bangladesh concluding the rain-affected day in a precarious position.

Key Performances and Missed Opportunities

Shadman Islam led the way with a score of 46. Other batsmen who made starts included:

• Mominul Haque (21)
• Mushfiqur Rahim (35)
• Litton Kumar Das (34)
• Mehidy Hasan (31)

These players showed initial resilience against the Sri Lankan bowling attack, but ultimately failed to capitalize on their starts.

Shadman's Perspective on the Day's Play

"You cannot score runs without playing shots," Shadman stated in a post-day press conference. He drew comparisons to their previous match in Galle, where similar aggressive tactics yielded more positive results. "We played shots in Galle too where those ended in boundaries. But unfortunately, maybe it was not our day today," he added.

When questioned about the team's scoring rate, Shadman dismissed suggestions of a deliberate attempt to accelerate the innings. "Nothing like that (trying to score at a good pace). Maybe some shots were wrong. It's part of cricket," he explained.

Analyzing the Pitch Conditions

Shadman also commented on the nature of the pitch, describing it as "a little bit slow." He noted, "There was no movement in the morning, but we threw our wickets away, but hopefully, we won't do that in the second innings."

Impact of Rain Interruption

The Bangladesh opener believes the frequent rain interruptions played a significant role in disrupting the batsmen's rhythm. "The batters need to get set again after a break. Maybe it played a role," Shadman suggested.

Optimism for the Second Innings

Despite the setbacks, Shadman remains optimistic about Bangladesh's chances in the match. "No one wants to get out intentionally. Maybe it was a bad day for us," he said.

He also defended the captain's decision to bat first, asserting that a total of 270 to 280 runs would be competitive on the slow surface at the SSC. "No, I haven't seen anything like that from which we can say that the decision was wrong [opting to bat first]. The wicket was a bit slow. I hope 270-280 is a good score. If we can bowl well, we will make a comeback Insha'Allah," he stated confidently.

Shadman concluded by emphasizing the importance of disciplined bowling. "If we can bowl in good areas, then we can make a comeback as there's help on the wicket," he added.

Sri Lanka's Perspective: Unusual Wicket Conditions

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka's bowling coach, Thilina Kandamby, expressed surprise at the behavior of the pitch at the SSC. He remarked that the surface played unlike anything he had experienced in his 15-year career.

"It's quite an unusual wicket at the SSC. Normally, you get true bounce here, but today it was a bit two-paced. The pace and bounce weren't consistent, and the ball came off the surface slower than we expected," Kandamby explained.

He praised the efforts of his fast bowlers, stating, "The fast bowlers really showed character. They picked up key wickets and kept us in the game."

Kandamby also highlighted the team's focus on fitness and workload management for the bowlers, which he believes is now paying dividends. Addressing concerns about Prabath Jayasuriya's form, he expressed confidence in the bowler's ability to rebound. "Prabath is slightly out of form, but we believe in his experience. I'm confident he'll bounce back," he said.