Milestone for Mominul, but ‘big hundreds expected’

Mominul Haque’s number three role is one where attacking intent is mixed with defensive solidity. The former Bangladesh captain became just the third batter from the country to reach 5,000 Test runs yesterday, but expectations are that he will reach bigger scores, having now missed out in the last five of his innings.

Since the Kanpur Test in India, where he got an unbeaten 107, he has been batting more regularly at number three, having swapped the number four position with Najmul Hossain Shanto a few times. At that position, he has used his experience to counter good bowling attacks, but as recent innings suggest, he has been unable to convert his fifties into bigger knocks.

The one-down role itself appears to be changing, with top teams assigning more attacking players. Mominul, however, is a traditionalist. Shanto, on the other hand, appears to be a perfect fit as well, having got five tons in 26 matches at three. But together, they fuse into a strong baton for Bangladesh, as was evidenced again on day four of their series opener against Pakistan.

Following their 170-run partnership in the first innings, the two once again put on a 105-run stand in the second after both openers departed early in the morning. Shaheen Shah and company produced good spells, the ball zipping around. Mominul took responsibility for absorbing pressure in that period, while Shanto released it, and having reached his fifty and the 5,000-run milestone, he departed to Shaheen at a point where he looked comfortable.

There is where the disappointment lies. In his last five innings, he notched 82, 63, 87, 91 and now 56. The conversion rate of 34.2 percent, with 13 hundreds, suggests that a lack of focus is setting in when he looks set. When Mominul had got his 10th Test ton in February 2021, his conversion rate was 47.6.

With milestones in his sight, batting coach Mohammad Ashraful believes Mominul needs to go back to his old flow of getting big hundreds.

“After Mushfiqur, he is very close to becoming the second Bangladeshi to play 100 Test matches; he has about 24 matches left,” Ashraful said. “I strongly believe he will be the second player from Bangladesh to reach 100 Tests, and he will continue to contribute like this.

“We expect big hundreds from him, just like the big hundreds we used to see from Mominul early in his career.”

For now, Mominul has been able to frustrate opponents. He stymied Pakistan’s attack, but if the Tigers are to get more from this WTC cycle, they need a Mominul without conversion concerns.