SPORTS REPORTER

As groundsmen flocked to the centre pitches following the end of both teams’ practice session, reporters were curiously waiting to see whether the ‘greenish’ looking surface would lose a bit of grass.

Why such a suspicion? News had come about just hours after Mehedi Hasan Miraz’s press conference in the afternoon that key pacer Taskin Ahmed had been ruled out, with Rejaur Rahman Raja drafted in as a replacement.

Without their leading pacer, would the hosts want as much grass on the surface? While the grass was not cut yesterday, that could very well change on Tuesday morning, the first day of the one-off Test against Ireland.

Skipper Shakib Al Hasan, who had a nonchalant demeanour, did not partake in any practice. His only moment of real activity came when he headed from the dressing room to the centre pitches in the morning with Chandika Hathurusingha. In the background, a table lay on its side and Taskin, who appeared a bit distant, was looking down below.

If a picture speaks volumes, was the tumbled table a symbol of a plan foiled due to Taskin’s injury? At the press conference, Miraz talked about the chance of the number of pacers in the eleven increasing, but that idea may also take a back seat following Taskin’s injury.

If not for Taskin’s injury, there is also the issue of Tamim and playing an extra batter. Tamim had returned to the Test side after sitting out the Tests against India, but a family emergency put his participation in doubt.

The idea that importance would be placed on pacers at home was being debated after looking at the greenish wicket and Miraz’s press conference had somewhat substantiated that idea before the news of Taskin’s injury.

When asked whether a spinning track was on offer or whether pace would be prioritised, Miraz believed the team had a good balance.: “We have a full-strength squad and the combination is working well for us.”

Belief in the pacers’ ability was also at the forefront of Miraz’s presser.

“The pacers’ role is very important. When they do well, the scenario inside the team changes. Pacers are doing well in ODIs and us spinners are doing well along with them. So the combination is good. Even in T20Is, the pacers are stepping up and we have begun to win matches. When a pacer gives you one or two wickets, the opponent falls behind. I believe our pacers are world-class and they will try their best to do well,” Miraz said.

The idea of aggression in Tests stems from the firepower of a pace-bowling unit. Given Taskin’s injury, the idea of a three-pronged pace attack with Raja looks uncertain. However, Miraz also suggested that the Tigers would look to translate their white-ball aggression into Tests going forward. The top-order batters all had a bout of range-hitting practice yesterday following regular nets session.

“There are attacking brands of cricket in the modern day. Teams are trying to attack even in the Test format at the moment. So obviously we will also try to do the same.”

“If we can manage 350-400 in 100 overs, it will be good for the players but it will depend on wicket and how the opponent bowls.”

“We will play Test cricket as it should be played,” Miraz further relayed.

But without a practice game, adaptability will be key and with Ebadot Hossain and Khaled Ahmed as the only experienced pacers, it remains to be seen if Tigers can start to build on their motto of aggression from the one-off Ireland Test.