During their last Test tour of the West Indies in 2022, Bangladesh's fast bowlers aimed to generate extra bounce. Shoriful Islam and Khaled Ahmed, who secured his first Test five-wicket haul in the opening match, consistently tried to make the ball rise higher off the pitch.
As they prepare for another Caribbean tour, there have been significant changes in the squad for the two-Test series, part of the World Test Championship. The Tigers will focus on length and seam movement to enhance their attack, starting with the first Test in Antigua on 22nd November, followed by the second Test at Jamaica's Sabina Park on 30th November.
This time, Khaled and Ebadot Hossain are not included in the squad. Instead, Shoriful, Taskin Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud, and Nahid Rana, a new addition to Bangladesh's pace attack, have been selected. The Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua, which hosted the first game of the previous series, will once again welcome the Tigers.
The venue favours batsmen who can withstand the early threat from fast bowlers, a scenario that should excite Nahid, who regularly hits the 150-kph mark and impressed in the final ODI against Afghanistan in the UAE earlier this month. For Bangladesh to gain momentum in the series, their fast bowlers need to make an impact from the first Test. The recent success of Taskin, Hasan, and Rana, who took all 10 wickets in the second innings of the second Test against Pakistan in Rawalpindi, boosts the Tigers' confidence.
A national team player commented, "I think there could be a formidable attack that can unsettle the Windies, especially with the pace Rana can bowl at. It's great that every bowler is competing hard."
However, Bangladesh's fast bowlers struggled in their recent away tour to India and in home Tests against South Africa, where spin was favoured. The last series against the Proteas saw fast bowlers take a back seat.
"Pace bowling has improved, but to reach the level of [Jasprit] Bumrah or Stuart Broad, more hard work is needed. Pakistan were a strong side, and we beat them at their home. We just need a bit of consistency. There were big players like Babar Azam in that team, a world-class player. Obviously, we did well, which is why we won," the cricketer mentioned.
The current crop of fast bowlers can draw inspiration from Khaled Ahmed's five-wicket haul in the last West Indies Tests to make their mark this time around. Kemar Roach and his teammates took all 10 Bangladesh wickets in the first innings of the previous series' first Test in Antigua, highlighting the crucial role of fast bowlers in the upcoming matches.
