Donald urges Bangladesh bowlers to avoid trying too many things

Allan Donald, the Bangladesh pace bowling coach, has urged his bowlers to bowl a bit fuller and avoid trying too many things as they prepare to take on Sri Lanka in the two-match Test series opener at Chattogram from May 15, reports Cricbuzz.

The Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium is traditionally known to produce pitches where run-making is easy, and the hosts had paid the price of trying too many things in the middle in the previous games at the venue, where they have lost their last three Tests against Afghanistan, West Indies and Pakistan respectively.

"I have realised this week that your length needs to be a bit fuller with the new ball. We have to get the best out of it in the first 30 overs. Getting Sri Lanka 40/3, and the other thing is ball conditioning. It is very sweaty and humid like typical sub-continental conditions,'' Donald told reporters on Thursday as Bangladesh resumed training after taking a one-day break.

"After 30 overs, (it is crucial) how much patience and discipline we can show by building that pressure. When the ball gets old, the reverse swing issue needs to come in. So it is a step by step process and it is going to be testing. Discipline, mental and creativity is going to be huge.

"I think on pitches like this, and my experience of playing in Pakistan, India and Sri Lanka, was much straighter lines. Your new ball is absolutely crucial. Just the emphasis on the last couple of days of training was how important that new ball is, where we need to find the hot zone, and invest in it a lot longer. Not to look for glory balls, inswing, outswing. We have to stick to the process,'' he said.

"A lot of our guys back home veer off the plan very quickly. Ebadot, Khaled and Shoriful know and understand what it takes to be bowling on flat pitches. This is a long learning process. Bangladesh haven't played a lot of Tests, so there's no fluency and consistency,'' he added.

Donald feels that reverse swing will play a big part in the game and added that his bowlers must make sure to do the most with the old ball as that will be crucial for them going into the game. The hosts are yet to win a Test match at home against Sri Lanka.