Spin in focus as Bangladesh Test squad begin skill camp

Bangladesh began a skill camp on Tuesday as they prepare for their one-off Test against Afghanistan in the UAE on October 9. With the Tigers returning to the Test arena after the Asian Games, spin has emerged as one of the key considerations in their preparations for the conditions they are likely to encounter.

The first day featured extended batting and bowling sessions, with the focus on preparing for the UAE’s generally flat surfaces, where spin can still play a significant role. The Tigers are therefore keeping their preparations flexible, mindful of both Afghanistan’s spin threat and the challenges posed by the conditions.

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“We are getting six skill training sessions before we head to Dubai for the Afghanistan series,” batting coach Mohammad Ashraful told reporters at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur on Tuesday.

“We have begun today, although the Test players have been working on fitness or practicing individually beforehand. We are going to undergo five more sessions after this, and we are keeping all our options open since it could turn out to be spinning tracks against Afghanistan, and we are managing our training accordingly.”

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The Tigers were seen using the spin-bowling machine to hone their abilities against spin. Asked if Afghanistan’s spin threat was a particular reason for bringing out the spin-bowling machine, Ashraful said: “No, actually, whenever we have time, Phil Simmons usually does these kinds of training. 

"You have seen before that, before playing Pakistan [in home Tests], we underwent this kind of skill training and used these bowling machines. Usually, we use spin-bowling, pace-bowling machines and slabs.”

The practice carried on in two separate phases before and after lunch. Endurance, bowling plenty of overs in the heat were things that were focused on after the Test cricketers had already undergone individual training alongside fitness work in the past few days.

“We practiced for two hours before lunch and another one-and-a-half hour or so after lunch. We focused on practicing so that the batsmen can bat for long periods and the bowlers can bowl long spells,” Ashraful said.

“We will continue the same plan tomorrow as well. Bowling long spells or batting for a long time were things that we focused on."