Not selecting a seamer not a concern for Walsh

Countries

Cricket365
December 4, 2018

Bangladesh bowling coach Courtney Walsh says not selecting a single pace bowler for the final Test against the West Indies does not signal the end of fast bowling in the country.

The Tigers dropped left-arm paceman Mustafizur Rahman for the second Test and played four frontline spinners in the second Test in Dhaka, the first time Bangladesh picked no seamer in a Test in their 18-year history.

The selections paid dividends as the hosts went on to win the game by an innings and 184 runs to seal a series clean sweep.

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Walsh said: “It is just one Test match that no fast bowler played.

“This was a Test to try to win the series. For me, it is not sending the wrong message.

“Tactically we felt it was the best for Bangladesh to win without a fast bowler. It might be the first time one hasn’t played, but the result matters.

“It is a tremendous feeling to have a series win. I think everything went according to the plans of the coach, captain and the rest of the guys had to win the series.”

The Windies legend, who took 746 wickets in international cricket, feels their is plenty of cricket ahead for the Bangladesh seamers to do well.

The Tigers start a three-match ODI series against West Indies on Sunday which will then be followed by the T20I matches.

Walsh continued: “There’s a lot of cricket coming up. The ODIs and T20Is will feature fast bowlers. Youngsters will see it and want to play.

“I think it is the programme that you put in place to encourage youngsters to play, and not just one Test match without a fast bowler.”