Friday, November 23, 2018

Nayeem Hasan: The 17-year old with a big heart



Nayeem Hasan is another wonderful addition to Bangladesh and world cricket

Do you expect a Bangladeshi 17-year old to be mature enough to go out there and face the fury of Caribbean pace bowlers? Do you really think that a 17-year old tail-ender can deal with the pace and aggression of Shannon Gabriel and Kemar Roach? If you think, the young generation of Bangladeshi boys is softer, perhaps, you are living in the world of fools. The boys of this generation are the species with a big heart – a heart filled with passion and the courage to conquer the impossible! Facing a Gabriel or Roach won’t be tough for them.

The big boys like Shakib Al Hasan, Mahmudullah Riyad, Mushfiqur Rahim and Mominul Haque were already back in the hut and now, a lanky 17-year old boy named Nayeem Hasan walked at the crease to bat in his first ever Test. Mind you, the face of the boy showed no signs of acute anxiety and fear, but his body language hinted, it as just another match in a para or moholla.  

Nayeem was confident and it was evident when he dared to play shots against West Indian pacers. Moreover, technically, Nayeem proved to be more efficient than the experienced campaigners in the team – solid on the back foot and an astute defence earned him accolades on Day 1. His resilience helped the Tigers to get out of the mess and get past 300 runs.

The first impression is always the best impression and many in Bangladesh believe this, still today. If any one impresses a Bangladeshi at first sight, they think, the person would deliver the goods in future. On Day 1, the impression about Nayeem was such and interestingly, he struck gold on Day 2 at Chattogram.

On Day 2, Nayeem essayed a world record by becoming the youngest cricketer in the history of Tests to take five wickets on debut. His bowling figure reads: 14-2-61-5. Nayeem broke the record of Australia’s Pat Cummins who took five wickets on debut against South Africa in 2011 at the age of 18 years and 193 days.


Obviously, from a Bangladeshi point of view, the thought of first impression is the best impression cut an impressive figure at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium. We, the Bangladeshis, thought, Nayeem would deliver more according to our expectations on Day 2 and he not only did it but straightway, entered in the record books.

For a spinner to bag wickets, needs to have a big heart. He needs to have the heart of a Lion. Otherwise, he might have to repent for his temperament. He needs to shun the mentally of bowling flatter despite getting hit. He does not need to care about getting hit, but continue to give enough air and flight to his deliveries.

Shimron Hetmyer was batting as a man possessed and so was Shane Dowrich. The runs were flowing thick and fast and the young Nayeem was taken to the cleaners. The boy had just plucked two wickets in his debut and was pumped up to devour more. But Hetmyer would not care who the hell Nayeem, Shakib or Taijul was! He was out there to create a havoc and smashed each an every Bangladesh spinners, which came in his way. Dancing feet, high back-lift, risk-but-murderous strokes – Hetmyer was unstoppable.    

Nayeem was hit for boundaries and sixes, but still, he was never afraid to toss the ball up and vary his flight. He persisted his attacking line, which was not wider-outside-off, but outside the offstump and top of off. He pulled the length back as he was not swayed by the emotion to bowl fast and full, which many young spinners do and get hit, and thus, delivered a tad slower and tried to impart sharp-turn by using the spin-finger more.

His line-and-length enticed the batters to drive and invite trouble. His big heart and an attacking mindset helped him to reap a rich harvest.  Certainly, the 17-year old is an exciting package – different in attitude and technically astute.

A wonder kid, who is blessed with a head on his shoulders and knows very well of what he is doing at a very young age. Expecting much better things from him in the upcoming days.     

Note: This article has been published at Cricketsoccer on 23/11/2018 Nayeem Hasan: The 17-year old with a big heart

Thank You
Faisal Caesar 
     

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