'Pace bowling far from doomed in Bangladesh’

Bangladesh bowling coach Courtney Walsh said he was happy while talking to reporters the day after Bangladesh completed a series whitewash over the Windies. Bangladesh played with four specialist spinners while for the first time in Tests they did not have a single frontline seamer in the lineup. Walsh reiterated that having four spinners was the way to go as they wanted to win the series. He also had advice for the Bangladesh pacers and said that it was not the end of the road just because no pacers were picked for the second Test. The excerpts of his conversation today with journalists is down below.

On not having a pace bowler in the second Test

"We had the one fast bowler and he didn't play. I won't dare say that we played Soumya" (laughs).

"We are here to win Test matches. Whatever surface we play on, whichever combination is the best to get Bangladesh to win Tests. I am always happy for that. Back in the day when West Indies used to dominate, they had four fast bowlers. Now Bangladesh is dominating with four spinners, so it is just a trend. The surface was never going to be fast bowler friendly. We thought the spinners would have a bigger role and that has proven to be the case."

On Bangladesh's pace bowling being doomed

"No, far from that. Tactically we wanted to play more spinners to win a Test and the series. It was achieved. The ultimate goal was set out. The boys played well. I know the victory might look easy but the first two days of cricket in this second Test was very vital. Bangladesh played very well and came out victorious. I think it shows that whenever given the opportunity, you have to try to do well with it. Hopefully when we go to New Zealand, the seamers might get a better opportunity, where we might get different types of wicket, and they should want to grab those opportunities as well. We haven't grabbed it in any overseas tour, and that to me is a bigger concern. No one has sort of put their hand up and said okay. We have had a few injuries but I think we have had enough Tests away from home where bowlers should be ready and be hungry for it.

On the target for the New Zealand tour

"The most important thing is consistency. We have to be able to hit the right areas consistently, to create problems. We have been working on it as best as we can. We don't know what conditions we might get in New Zealand but it might be seamer-friendly. We have to be up for a task.  The seamers need to put their hand up and say that 'when I am in Bangladesh, I might not play but when I'm away from home, I need to be the first name on the list'. That's what we have been trying to do in terms of consistency".

The guys need to believe in themselves some more, and we will try to work on that as best as we can.

Walsh's message to young pace bowlers

"It is just one Test match that no fast bowler played. We had Fizz in one Test, we had Khaled and Fizz in another Test. This was a Test to try to win the series. For me, it is not sending the wrong message. Tactically, it would've been the best for Bangladesh to get a win without a fast bowler. It might be the first time one hasn't played, but the result is what matters. It is a tremendous feeling to have a series win and to win two Test matches. I think everything went according to the plans of the coach, captain and the rest of the guys to win the series.

"There's a lot of cricket being played. The ODIs are coming up where the fast bowlers are trying to feature, then comes the T20s. Youngsters will see that and say 'I want to play'. I think it is a programme that you put in place to encourage these youngsters to play, and not the Test matches you see without a fast bowler.

Difficult to be mentally motivated

"I think they should be disappointed at not playing, but it is not the end of the world or end of the road. You win a Test series, so things went well for the team. Mentally, they have to show more strength in practice, in the ODIs coming up and those who are selected for the tour of New Zealand. Someone has to say that okay I wasn't selected in a Test matches in Bangladesh but I have to make sure it doesn't happen again. You have to put your hand up and say 'Whenever it is seamer-friendly, my name will be on the paper.'

Are you disappointed as a West Indian?

For me personally, I was being heckled by a few West Indians back home. I was very very happy when we won the series in Miami and the ODI series because the heckling was a little less.

"What I might say is that I am disappointed in the results [of West Indies] and probably how things have unfolded but I am very happy to be involved with Bangladesh. We are in a winning situation so my pride is intact. As a West Indian, you are going to be disappointed in the performance, and saddened by the margin of defeat or with the way it came about in India and here. And I hope that after Bangladesh win all the series here and the West Indies leave, they will improve in those performances.

Involvement of fast bowlers in ODIs

"We are hoping (laughs).

Looking forward to having Mashrafe and Rubel back

"We are always excited when we have one-day cricket. Mash and Rubel are back. Fizz is around. We will have seamers in the squad but we don't know who will play, it depends on the type of surface we are playing on. Whatever combination we have, we have to go out there to win cricket matches.

"You want to win games and series and I think the more matches Bangladesh win, the better it will be for the youngsters coming in.

How do you assess Khaled?

"He played one Test and I was very impressed with his attitude.

"His attitude has been tremendous. Unfortunately, he didn't get a wicket but he bowled very well. All the guys encouraged him. I think, just him being around the dressing room, getting that winning feeling, being able to go out and practice and stuff, he will improve from that. I am very happy with the way he is going and once he continues to be consistent, he will be in the thick of things.

How would you bat on this wicket?

"You want to ask me about my leave alone? (laughs).

Pacers suffer in overseas conditions

"I don't think so. I think hopefully that will get them hungry. It's our job as coaches to get them ready for overseas conditions. Obviously if you look at cricket, the more games you play, the better it is. In this day and age you don't have the luxury so you have to be ready for whatever chance you get to perform.

We had more pacers before you came

"You have to ask the selectors. My job is to get the pacers ready and if selected they need to perform as well as they can. I think conditions will probably have something to do with it. For me the opposition you are playing against. We've had a few injuries here and there but wherever the Bangladesh team goes to play, you try to put the best team on the park that you think will win their game."