Rhythm behind the stumps helps Litton break batting slump

When the runs dried up, Litton Das still had his gloves to fall back on. His wicketkeeping remained sharp through a difficult run with the bat, helping him stay involved in the game and read the conditions. In Abu Dhabi, that rhythm behind the stumps finally translated into runs as Litton put four consecutive ducks behind him with a hundred that could prove timely for the Tigers ahead of a crucial stretch of their World Test Championship (WTC) calendar.

Three of his four consecutive ducks had come in red-ball cricket, following a hundred and a fifty against Pakistan in Sylhet. The three successive failures against Australia piled pressure on the wicketkeeper-batter, but he responded in Abu Dhabi in style, following a first-innings fifty with his seventh Test hundred. With Bangladesh’s upcoming WTC assignments against West Indies and South Africa carrying significant weight, his return to form offers the team management some much-needed relief.

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Litton also made the most of fortune being on his side.

Dropped on 16 and 26, he survived another scare when Afghanistan, having exhausted their reviews, could not challenge a loud caught-behind appeal following an inside edge. His on-drives, in particular, reflected his comfort at the crease as he batted with increasing authority. It may not have been a match-saving knock, but the way he persevered after his recent struggles was encouraging.

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From four ducks to a Test ton: Litton makes his statement

While his bat finally came alive, Litton’s work behind the stumps had already been a standout feature of the Test. He has taken eight dismissals so far, five in Afghanistan’s first innings and three in the second. His tally puts him among the leading Bangladesh wicketkeepers in a Test match, surpassing Khaled Masud Pilot’s seven dismissals against Zimbabwe in Harare in 2004.

He is now within sight of the world record of 11 dismissals by a wicketkeeper in a Test match. He needs three more to reach the mark, with Afghanistan having seven wickets in hand heading into the fifth day.

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Litton breaks free with a smile, goes on to hit 53

Litton’s contribution has gone beyond routine catches. When Hasan Mahmud completed his hattrick in the first innings, Litton made a telling contribution with a low, diving catch to his right to dismiss Qais Ahmad for the second wicket of the hattrick, recovering after initially diving the wrong way.

Later, when Mehidy Hasan Miraz produced a gem of a delivery to beat Hashmatullah Shahidi, Litton’s lightning-quick reaction was needed to complete the stumping.

At the end of the fourth day, Litton acknowledged how wicketkeeping had helped him remain centred when runs were hard to come by.

“Yes, it [wicketkeeping] definitely helps. Because from behind the wicket, I can understand a lot of things and get a good idea about the wicket. That helps my batting a lot,” he said.