The outgoing Coach of Bangladesh Cricket, Jamie Siddons, has assessed that there is scarcity of fast bowlers in Bangladesh and they just have one pace bowler, Mashrafe Mortaza, who follows in the line of decent quickies.
Every balanced side in the world is equipped with a battery of fast bowlers and there are plenty in the wings if some is injured, or, replaced. The situation is different in Bangladesh and it’s very hard to find quality fast bowlers and the pitches and conditions are not suitable for their production, he commented,
"The first-class competition is very different, wickets are slow and low, dominated by spin, not always good spinners, but spinners tend to hold the score up and get wickets", Siddons said. "Almost all of our first-class grounds are like that, so an opening bowler might bowl a four-over spell and then not come back until the second new ball sometimes. So in terms of developing fast bowlers it is very difficult for them to even want to bowl fast".
He further visualised that the play grounds and the big stadiums also discourage the upcoming quickies. Shere Bangla Stadium , Mirpur has the surface, which can be vital for them if prepared properly, but the team management is always scared of pacers in visiting teams and prepare a slow track.
The nurseries of cricket in Bangladesh, like schools, or, clubs, do not encourage the kids to become fast bowlers and the talent is also not witnessed in lower level cricket.
Bangladesh has produced average fast bowlers and don’t have heroes like other countries, which are the inspiration and followed by the young generation.
If they come across some talent, they throw them directly into Under-17s, or, Under-19s, and mould them according to prevailing conditions. They don’t have competitions at the school level, which can be played during the week, and, weekend cricket competitions do not exist.
"They might play three or four games a year, some kids, and some even less than that. I think it's organised, they're trying to organise it, but it's not as good as what we've got in Australia, and the reasons would probably be very varied, and I can't really tap into what they are".
They should establish academies, green, and, grassy grounds, search for the young talent, groom them, encourage them and the positive results can be achieved for the future of cricket in Bangladesh.
