‘A plan for every batter’: Taskin trusts his process against Australia batters

Bangladesh pace spearhead Taskin Ahmed knows Tigers will need more than individual plans to trouble Australia’s formidable batting line-up, but the fast bowler is confident in sticking to the process that has served him well.

Australia’s batters, led by the dangerous Travis Head, will present one of Bangladesh’s biggest challenges when the two-Test series begins in Darwin on Thursday. Taskin, however, is not looking for anything extraordinary against Head or the rest of the hosts’ batting order.

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“No doubt he’s one of the best batters in the world, but still, it’s a game of bat on ball,” Taskin said during a media session in Darwin on Monday.

“I’m going to follow my process, how I have been doing over the last few years. It won’t be easy, but I can’t do anything more than that. I’ll stick to my process and let’s see how it goes.”

Taskin said Bangladesh would have plans for each Australian batter, but conditions and execution would ultimately determine their success.

“Definitely, we will come up with a plan for every batter. But that depends on the conditions and how the pitch is behaving. It’s totally dependent on the execution and how we execute on the ground,” he said. “We also have to play really good cricket to compete with them.”

Bangladesh will be without two of their key pace options in the first Test, with Nahid Rana and Shoriful Islam unavailable. Taskin admitted their absence would be felt, particularly that of Nahid, who has emerged as one of Bangladesh’s biggest pace threats.

Bangladesh will be without two of their key pace options in the first Test, with Nahid Rana and Shoriful Islam unavailable. Taskin admitted their absence would be felt, particularly that of Nahid, who has emerged as one of Bangladesh’s biggest pace threats.

“Really, we’re going to miss them, especially Nahid Rana, who is a big threat in world cricket nowadays. Unfortunately, he got injured,” he said.

“But myself and some other bowlers have a little bit of experience to do well as well. It’s a great opportunity for the bowlers playing in Australia. If they were there, Rana and Shoriful, it might be different, but still, we are hoping to do well.”

The series also carries personal significance for Taskin, who grew up watching Australian cricket and its legendary fast bowlers. Now, he has the opportunity to face them on their home soil.

“I was a big cricket fan. At that time, I was just a school kid. I was watching them and, no doubt, from my childhood I’ve been watching the Australian team, great fast bowlers and legendary players,” he said. “Now I have the opportunity to play against them, so I’m really excited.”

Mitchell Starc was the name that immediately came to Taskin’s mind when asked which Australian bowlers he admired most.

“Mitchell Starc!” he said with a laugh.

Taskin also named Starc alongside Josh Hazlewood, Pat Cummins and Scott Boland, while recalling his previous appearances in Australia at the 2012 Under-19 World Cup, 2015 World Cup and 2022 T20 World Cup.

“Australia is my favourite place to bowl,” he said. “I’ve been watching all of them: Starc, Hazlewood, Cummins, even Boland is doing well. If I have a chance to chat with them, I definitely will.”