9 October - Dharamsala - Bangladesh Coach Rangana Herath pre-match press conference
[Reporter:]
With England playing tomorrow, and your team having played in Dharamsala on the 7th, you have seen how the outfield is. What are the protocols for the fielders? What advice would you give the fielders on this outfield?
[Rangana Herath:]
Basically, as you said that we had a very good outing two days ago. So, in that case, we know how the ground field works. So, in that case, we need to adapt with the ground field as well. So mainly that we had a very good start against Afghanistan. So, in that case, I'm sure that we need to continue that same mindset with our approach, actually.
[Reporter:]
About the outfield. It's not great. The ICC commented that it's an average outfield. So, what would you tell the fielders to do? I mean, are you telling them not to do certain things in that outfield?
[Rangana Herath:]
No, we are not going to restrict anything because if you ask someone to restrict something, in that case they don't give their 100%. In that case, I'm sure that they did well that previous game, so we are asking give their best even in the outfield as well.
[Reporter:]
Your spinners did really well in the first match and wicket was really good for the spinners too. So, what do you think in this big match they will have a big role for spinners and are you hopeful for this?
[Rangana Herath:]
I think I would like to highlight as you said that the spinners did well, so in that case apart from their skills I think they read the pitch very well. So, after that, they bowl well according to those situations. In that case, I'm sure these two spinners will bowl, they will assess the condition first, and they will bowl according to the pitch actually.
[Reporter:]
Just on the outfield, are you happy with the condition of the outfield? Do you think it is good enough for a very important World Cup match?
[Rangana Herath:]
I think ICC have done a lot of hard work on that. So, in that case, I think they think that because of the standard that they have maintained, they have given that authority to play one day international. So, in that case, I'm happy with it.
[Reporter:]
In the match against Afghanistan, there was no proper sixth bowling option in the eleven. I mean, obviously Mahmudullah was there and Shanto, but no proper sixth bowling option. Do you feel that against England you might need someone like Nasum Ahmed or Shak Mahedi Hasan - maybe one more pacer?
[Rangana Herath:]
It's all up to the condition and I'm sure if you really needed another extra option then selectors and the coach, captain, they will have a proper discussion and they will decide tomorrow.
[Reporter:]
But just what do you feel?
[Rangana Herath:]
Obviously, because we are playing in a different surface, so in that case we need to see the surface first, then we can decide.
[Reporter:]
You haven't seen the wicket yet?
[Rangana Herath:]
I haven't seen the pitch yet.
[Reporter:]
What's the message towards the team after the win and before playing against England? We know you guys would go one at a time, but what's the actual message there for the players against England?
[Rangana Herath:]
Very important is playing our brand of cricket. So, with that approach and with the body language. So, we need to play that same mindset with that same approach. So, if we can play that brand of our cricket, so there's a chance of winning as well as succeeding.
[Reporter:]
How do you see the experience of New Zealand versus England in the previous match? Bangladesh has also played so many matches in this outfield and this stadium. How will you take advantage from that?
[Rangana Herath:]
Basically, when we were watching that last few games actually, playing those teams England, New Zealand and yesterday India, Australia. So there are things that we can learn out of those games. Because the next for example that we are playing a game against New Zealand in Chennai. So those are the advantages that we can get by watching, actually. So, as you said, those are very good experiences and learnings for us. So, we need to take game one at a time, actually.
[Reporter:]
About Shakib and Mehidy's bowling in the last game, how would you describe it and was it up to your expectation as well, especially how Shakib bowled quite aggressively?
[Rangana Herath:]
To be honest, 10 out of 10. Because as I said earlier, they read the pitch well. So, then they analysed which line and which length that they needed to bowl. And they had a very attacking field setting as well. So, in that case, I'm 100% happy with how they bowled actually.
[Reporter:]
About the field placings in the last game, you didn't have a lot of fielders in the deep, even when Afghanistan were on the attack. Is that also part of the brand of cricket that you want to play?
[Rangana Herath:]
Definitely, because when it comes to planning, obviously, you have to play your best with your skill and strength. So, in that case, having an extra fielder inside, having some different kind of a field setting. So those are that we are thinking of actually.
[Reporter:]
And then a last question from me. I wanted to ask you on a personal level have you seen an outfield like this before when you've played at this highest level maybe at a world event?
[Rangana Herath:]
Obviously not from the start, sometimes after rain and all so you can get this kind of a field because unless you get a proper 100 percent in that case as I said earlier - if you get a field like international standard, so why we are going to complain about it? So, I'm not up to thinking of that level. So, if it is good for playing international cricket, I'm happy with the decision.
[Reporter:]
Coach, what about batting lineup? England have a very good bowling attack, and in the preparation match we have seen that they can do something better. So, what do you think about this batting line-up, especially in the opening pair, which Litton Das is not doing really well for few matches. So, what is the concern about batting?
[Rangana Herath:]
I mean, so as you said, like Litton Das, so we, everybody can go through a kind of a rough patch. So only thing is how you can come back strongly. So, I'm sure that Litton will come back very strongly. As you said, always when it comes to batting, we need to have a proper partnership. So that's our main goal. So, get a proper partnership, and once you get that partnership, we need to score big, actually.