Bangladesh head coach Phil Simmons acknowledged that T20I captain Litton Kumar Das is at the moment brief on confidence, and the group is making an effort to assist him regain his type forward of the second T20I towards Sri Lanka in Dambulla on Sunday, July 13. Sri Lanka at the moment have a lead within the three-match sequence with 1-0, having received the opening encounter comfortably by a seven-wicket margin.
Litton has been going by way of a tough patch, failing to attain a half-century in his final 17 worldwide innings throughout each ODIs and T20Is. His final fifty in limited-overs cricket got here again in June 2024. He was dropped from the ODI XI after a first-ball duck within the opening match of that sequence, and will solely handle six runs within the first T20I.
“I believe his confidence is a bit low. We all know what he can produce. We’re working exhausting to get him to that stage. Hopefully he can get there within the subsequent match,” Simmons mentioned forward of the upcoming conflict, as quoted by Cricbuzz.
Simmons acknowledged {that a} closing resolution on Jaker Ali, who missed the primary T20I attributable to a quad damage, can be made nearer to the second match. Though Jaker was reportedly eager to play and will have featured within the XI had he been cleared to maintain wickets, the group administration opted to not take that threat. He additionally defended the choice to go together with 4 openers within the first match, suggesting it was a strategic transfer based mostly on group wants and situations.
“Jaker acquired injured earlier than the third ODI. We’re going to see how he’s tonight, and decide on his place tomorrow. We’ll see what’s taking place right here tonight. We’ll see the wicket and make the choice, whether or not we wish to go together with the identical group or change up issues,” the previous cricketer additional added.
“Folks have to have a look at what’s taking place. Jaker was injured, so who else are we going to play there? One of many bowlers? Folks need to be life like. We needed to play a batter (in Jaker’s place). Adaptation is a giant factor on this format. Gamers need to adapt. On this format, openers typically play at quantity 5 or 6. The following plan is to do higher on the stuff that we weren’t adequate at within the final recreation. We have now to get extra runs and bowl higher within the first six (overs). We have to enhance with sure issues at sure ranges to be aggressive with them. That is what we need to do,” he added.
Our fielding improved with constant repetition: Chandana
In the meantime, Sri Lanka fielding coach Upul Chandana acknowledged that the group’s sharp performances within the subject are a results of constant repetition and targeted apply. He famous that Sri Lanka’s fielding has been excellent all through the sequence, including additional stress on the Bangladesh aspect.
“For those who take from 2023, we’ve got to enhance fielding. We analysed and realised that we needed to work on a number of areas – like we labored on our health, and we elevated repetition. Confidence is the important thing. We do a variety of repetitions and gamers are assured that they will do issues now. They dangle within the recreation until the final second,” he mentioned.
“If we used to spend 20 minutes on fielding earlier than, now we spend about 40 minutes on fielding. Our largest problem was getting the perfect out of our quick bowlers. They labored actually exhausting. That has been a giant enhance for the group. They’re placing their full power and give attention to fielding and that is one cause why we’ve got finished nicely in fielding,” the fielding coach added.
Chandana finds development in Lanka as a group
Chandana famous the group’s enchancment in fielding, crediting gamers’ dedication and perspective. He added that fielding permits everybody to contribute and brings satisfaction. He additionally emphasised not taking the opposition evenly regardless of their latest win at Pallekele.
“We have now a variety of good fielders. We’re progressing as a group. We’re in a greater place than the place we had been. That was due to the participant’s dedication. Fielding is all about perspective. Bowlers can go for runs. Batters might be dismissed for a low rating. However fielding, everybody can contribute. We have now informed them that it is a problem and that must be loved. On the finish of the sport, gamers can really feel good if they’ve fielded nicely, and they’re all giving their finest,” he expressed.
“We had recreation at Pallekele. Kusal Mendis and Pathum Nissanka had been superior for us. They gave us a stable begin. As a group, we had recreation throughout all three disciplines, and we’re geared as much as go forward of tomorrow’s recreation. They’re aspect, and we anticipate them to struggle exhausting to stage the sequence. We are attempting to play higher than how we performed the final recreation,” the previous Sri Lanka worldwide concluded.
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