Bangladesh head coach urges patience for Test side's transition phase
Following Zimbabwe’s stunning win over Bangladesh in Sylhet, Phil Simmons opens up on the mentality within the home side’s dressing room.
With Zimbabwe having staged a three-wicket win to take a 1-0 lead in the two-Test series, Bangladesh are under the radar before the second Test.
Head coach Phil Simmons however, has called for patience from the fans, emphasising the ongoing transition process within the team.
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"I ask for patience from the Bangladesh people, I know how passionate they are for the team to do better," Simmons told reporters ahead of the Chattogram Test.
"I request for patience. We are trying to put the right things in place to get us to play better.
“We pick players. They play at their tempo. The aggressive part comes into running between the wickets, attitude when you get to the wicket and attitude on the field.
“It doesn't necessarily mean that you have to score at five runs an over. Some days you can bat at five, other days you will bat at two or three."
Simmons’ comments come after Bangladesh skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto’s critical self-assessment of his dismissal in the first Test.
Simmons asserted that despite the recent result, the message to the players is to play a ‘positive’ brand of cricket.
"I think we know that as a unit we didn't bat properly in the first innings,” said Simmons on the team being dismissed for 190.
“We put ourselves in problems. We want to play a brand of positive Test cricket, not just going for 200 runs in a day.
“It will take a bit of time to reach where we want to be.
“My message to them is that there were a few loose shots and some soft dismissals but we need to make sure that we improve as we go along. We can't have this for one, two or three Tests (in a row).”
The 62-year-old also went on to note the positives in the bowling department in recent times.
"Our pacers have skills. Hasan (Mahmud) has taken five-fors in Pakistan, which is not far different from here.
"Khaled (Ahmed) has done well. (Tanzim Hasan) Sakib hasn't played that much but we know what he can bring to the attack. We still have the skills and depth from the seamers.
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"I think (Tanzim) can shine in any format, with the lengths he bowls. He is deceptive with his pace.
“We have seen it with the white ball. He hits the stumps regularly. He gets people caught behind regularly. He also brings a bit of batting, which is always good for the team."
Bangladesh and Zimbabwe will lock horns in the second Test starting Monday, April 28 in Chattogram.