Bangladesh in mid-table of fielding: Tigers fielding coach

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Bangla Tribune Desk
Published : 20:00, Aug 24, 2019 | Updated : 20:02, Aug 24, 2019

Bangladesh team’s fielding consultant Ryan Cook believes his side’s performance in the fielding department is currently at the “mid-table”. In the recent months, the Tigers have been under intense scrutiny for exhibiting below-par standards, let be it with ground fielding or catching.


Bangladesh`s head coach Russell Domingo (L), and fielding consultant Ryan CookThe best of fielders in the team in the shape of Mahmudullah, Mosaddek Hossain, Tamim Iqbal and Sabbir Rahman have been found hitting rock bottom at crucial times during a game.
The troubles affected the team in the World Cup 2019 in England and Wales where they finished eighth, and their fortunes refused to improve when they travelled to Sri Lanka last month as they conceded a 3-0 ODI series whitewash against the host nation.
A 35-member Bangladesh squad started training at Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka from Monday and had their first fielding drills under the supervision of Cook and newly appointed head coach Russell Domingo Saturday.
Bangladesh Test and T20I captain Shakib al Hasan joined the squad after performing Hajj.
“I would say, probably at mid-table in fielding. We had a good chance to see ourselves at a neutral condition during the World Cup. And we found, probably we are at the middle of the pack. I would like us to be in top three, we can definitely make it start to become the top three fielding side in the world,” said Cook to reporters in Mirpur Saturday.
Cook once again stressed that the lack of “basics” is causing the problem.
There is however, a strong argument in the cricketing fraternity that it is actually the fitness that has been the cause behind the worsening of Bangladesh’s fielding.
“Everyone can improve from where they are now. If that’s the basics at the U-15 level all the way through, that’s where you got to be. But sometimes some guys from different places, like Ebadat [Hossain], who did not come from age-group cricket. So sometimes it’s difficult to know, where he is coming from. But it’s going to be a priority from the lower ages as well,” Cook explained.
“Fitness is very much related to fielding. We have already discussed about it before. But the throwing arms of some of the teams, are all higher. Having been involved with cricket in Australia, they take throwing very seriously. They teach the technique even at the U-9 level through their system. So that is why you can have 11 players to park to throw the ball quick and hard from any position. We are not up to that level. So we need to make sure we get up to that level and teach the basics,” the South African emphasized.

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