'Bowling to contain runs' has got me wickets – Taijul Islam

"Whether it's a four-man spin attack or two-man spin attack, I always concentrate on bowling to contain runs," he said on Monday, 26 November.

"I just want to contain the batsmen. Even if you don't pick wickets, if you are checking the runs, it will help the bowlers from the other end to pick wickets. Cricket is such a game that someone will pick wickets while someone else will stop the flow of runs. I just wanted to follow my process. Getting wickets is something that has got a lot to do with fate."

Islam has claimed 40 scalps in Tests so far this year, going past Mohammad Rafique's 33 dismissals to become Bangladesh's highest wicket-taker in a calendar year.

He said it was important to dedicate "time" to bowling, and hone the craft. "I think we need to develop [game sense] it. But you need to give time," he said. "You will see a lot of bowlers doing well after three-four years in Test.

"Test cricket is a difficult format. Perhaps, seeing from outside, it looks the same, but inside the field, the situation changes quite drastically. When we get down to the ground, we have to notice a lot of things. So you need to give time.

"See Miraz [Mehedy Hasan] came into the scene two years (back), while I'm around for four years. There is newcomer Nayeem Hasan. I won't say we did badly, but we need to develop our game sense. When we will spend some more years, at that point, Nayeem and Miraz will certainly come up with better performances."

The 26-year-old also lavished praise on Shakib Al Hasan, and said picking up wickets around the Bangladesh captain inspired him to do well.

"Whether it is in Asia or away, there is no one who can be compared to Shakib bhai," said Islam. "Still, when I pick wickets when he is around, it is really satisfying as it inspires me to do well ... thinking, 'though I won't be like Shakib bhai at least I can go close to him someday'. You can compare Shakib bhai with Shakib bhai only."

Islam has claimed 94 wickets in 22 Tests so far, and has the chance of overtaking Shakib [28 Tests] as the quickest bowler from Bangladesh to 100 Test wickets.

"I am not thinking anything about it [fastest to 100 Test wickets for Bangladesh]. If there are wickets in my fate, I will get. Otherwise not so. I only need to concentrate on bowling in the right area as it gives you a better chance of picking wickets."