‘Consistency the name of the game’

Bangladesh bowling coach Courtney Walsh placed emphasis on control and consistency while conducting a camp with a group of pace bowlers for the first time since joining the Tigers’ coaching staff in September last year. The former West Indies great talked to reporters at Mirpur yesterday regarding his camp, the prospect of a bowling partnership between Taskin Ahmed and Mustafizur Rahman, the returning Sri Lankan bowling coach Champaka Ramanayake and most importantly, Mustafizur’s bowling issues.

“It’s the first chance I’ve had to do any serious work with them. They have been in competition since my arrival and it’s hard to be in competition and trying to do stuff at the same time. Contrary to what a lot of people are writing or saying that I’ve changed actions, nothing of that sort has happened. Now this is the chance where we can rectify the mistakes that have been arising. That’s one of the reasons I arrived here earlier,” said Walsh.

“There are a couple of basics that they have to learn but the main one is just consistency. They have not been as consistent as they should be or can be and it’s not just here, it’s something that happens in the national team.

“I want to see more consistency, more control and variation and more thought into what they’re doing. The first part is control and consistency,” he outlined his motto.

Regarding Mustafizur, Walsh said:  “Well I noticed that he was falling away a bit in England. So I’ve been trying to get him more upright and balanced so he can pull through. And trying to get his pace back up to where it used to be and for him to be a little bit closer to the stump. So those are the things we are working on and he knows some of what needs to be done as well. I’ve got to give him credit because he is eager to get out here and practise because he wants to be the best there is.

“I haven’t changed his action and I won’t be trying to unless I think that’s required. The last couple of days he’s close to what he used to be so he’s headed in the right direction. There won’t be any massive changes.

“It’s funny you should ask me that [about Taskin and Mustafizur] because that’s what I was telling them back in the room. Fizz and Taskin complement each other. One of the bowlers mentioned was that he likes to bowl and help his partner. So they are thinking about that now,” he said regarding the pair.

He also added: “I’ll welcome him [Champaka Ramanayake] with open arms and hopefully we can help Bangladesh cricket.”

Source: The Daily Star