Hasan Mahmud Highlights Bangladesh’s Progress After Australia Challenge

Bangladesh speed bowler Hasan Mahmud stated on Tuesday that they may achieve “80 percent” of their goal of dominating Australia in the just finished two-match Test series.

Bangladesh shared honours with the host as the series finished in a 1-1 draw, when Australia destroyed Bangladesh by an innings in Mackay after losing the first Test by nine wickets in Darwin.

“From winning in Darwin to giving them a run for their money in Mackay, dominating in bowling, it was our aim before going to Australia to play against them and dominate. I believe we were able to meet 100% of our aim,” added Hasan, who scored a fifer in the first Test to set the tone for the visiting group in Darwin.

“When we started training in Australia, our thinking, dedication and focus in practice, I would say we were able to apply it fully and all the players tried to give their best,” he stated.

“We can still feel the result of our work, the thing that we all fought for, we almost achieved it, unfortunately the series was drawn but it was a big achievement for us,” he stated.

“The more we play in this kind of condition, we will dominate, and get to play against the bigger teams more often, I hope to win more games in future, and dominate more in world cricket,” he stated.

Hasan noted that their pace unit received the advantages of precision bowling, which he believes was the key to their victory.

“We (pace bowling unit) have been trying to improve in the last few years, and before coming to Australia we talked among ourselves regarding the conditions and challenges that we would face – we also communicated with the coach, analyst,” Hasan added.

“Obviously, Australia is one of the world’s finest teams. We discussed our intentions for them, and after arriving in Australia, we tried to implement the tasks that we were meant to perform in training, such as accuracy with a new ball, swinging a new ball and bowling with line and length’, he explained.

“Overall, the way our pacers were working, their dedication and focus, and their ability to move forward as planned, I would say, was a sign of improvement. Everyone tried their hardest, and I believe we were all able to produce in the match, with the fast bowlers making a significant contribution to our victory; as a fast bowling team, we were extremely confident about this series,” he remarked.

Starc’s Tips for Shoriful

Meanwhile, Shoriful Islam, who took seven wickets in the first innings of the second Test, revealed that he received some advice from Mitchell Starc following the second game of the series.

“Basically, after the game, I wanted to talk with him (Starc) and asked for some of his time, which he agreed to, and I asked what kind of fitness levels he maintains before a series and how he prepares himself,” said Shoriful, who was pictured speaking with Starc after the second Test in Mackay.

“He (Starc) said given his age (36), his preparation is different from ours but I got to know about all this and also how he maintains himself after a game,” he remarked.