For
Bangladesh, Abu Jayed is one such bowler. Yet, his potential was underutilized
on Day 1, leaving many to wonder why a talent of his calibre wasn’t given the
ball earlier.
But Day 2
in Jamaica told a different story—a tale of redemption and resurgence.
The West
Indies resumed their innings with Shimron Hetmyer and Roston Chase, both eager
to pile on the misery for the visitors. The lacklustre bowling from the
previous day likely emboldened the duo, but what greeted them on Day 2 was a
transformed Bangladesh attack.
Abu Jayed,
the young seamer, took centre stage, defying the oppressive heat and humidity
with a spirited spell of fast-medium bowling. He hit ideal lengths
consistently—back of a length and full deliveries aimed with precision—and
maintained a steady pace around 80 mph. It was this consistency, combined with
his ability to move the ball, that made Jayed a different bowler
altogether.
Jayed
struck early, dismissing the dangerous Hetmyer with a sharp delivery that leapt
off a length outside off stump, forcing an edge. Shortly after, Chase fell
victim to a full delivery angled in, trapped plumb in front. The two set
batsmen, who had looked poised to build a commanding total, were sent back to
the pavilion, leaving the West Indies rattled and sparking a pertinent
question:
Why wasn’t
Jayed used more on Day 1, when the pitch still offered assistance for his style
of bowling?
The answer
lies with Shakib Al Hasan and the Bangladesh think tank. Perhaps they had
banked on spin to unsettle the West Indies, given the traditional vulnerability
of Caribbean batsmen against quality spin. While the strategy was logical on
paper, its execution faltered due to erratic line and length from the bowlers.
On a track with early life, the decision to hold back Jayed—whose full-length
deliveries and ability to bring the ball back in could have been
game-changing—appears questionable in hindsight.
Moreover,
opening the bowling with a spinner on such surfaces may work in shorter formats
like T20s, but in the tactical grind of Test cricket, it often proves
counterproductive.
With
Hetmyer and Chase gone, the complexion of the game shifted. The Tigers were on
the prowl, and Jayed’s early strikes had set the stage for Mehidy Hasan Miraz
to weave his magic.
Miraz, a
proven performer in Test cricket, had been one of the few bright spots on Day
1. On Day 2, he elevated his game, varying his pace and refining his lengths to
perfection. His guile and control brought swift rewards.
Shane
Dowrich, the gritty wicketkeeper-batsman, was lured into a false stroke by a
slower delivery that dipped deceptively, resulting in a tame dismissal. Keemo
Paul followed soon after, edging a full delivery, and Miguel Cummins was
trapped lbw the very next ball. With that, Miraz secured yet another
five-wicket haul in Test cricket, a testament to his craft and
determination.
Even as the
West Indies skipper Jason Holder threatened to forge a tail-end resistance
reminiscent of their series against Sri Lanka, Jayed returned to banish the
spectre of Shannon Gabriel with pace and precision, sealing the innings.
The
turnaround was complete. Bangladesh’s bowlers, led by the youthful exuberance
of Jayed and the seasoned skill of Miraz, had clawed their team back into the
contest. It was a performance marked by grit, adaptability, and, above all, a
refusal to yield.
Now, the
onus shifts to the Bangladesh batsmen. The bowlers have laid the groundwork
with their hard-earned breakthroughs; it is up to the batsmen to ensure that
the efforts of Jayed and Miraz are not squandered.
Test cricket, after all, is a team game, and the Tigers must now come together to build on this momentum. As Day 2 drew to a close, one thing was clear: Abu Jayed had arrived as a force to be reckoned with, and Mehidy Hasan Miraz had reaffirmed his status as Bangladesh’s spinning lynchpin. Together, they reminded the cricketing world that even in adversity, the Tigers have the heart to fight back.
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