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Alastair Cook addressed a variety of issues, from mental strength to Kevin Pietersen to his future with Essex, after announcing his impending retirement

ESPNcricinfo staff05-Sep-2018Alastair Cook addressed a variety of issues, from mental strength to Kevin Pietersen to his future with Essex, in the wake of his announcement that he will retire from Test cricket at the end of the Oval TestWhat do you make of the reaction to your retirement news over the last couple of days?

It’s been a bit surreal. One of my friends rang me to check I was still alive because everyone was talking as if I’d died. It is nice when you hear so many nice words said about you. The last couple of days I’ve been back at home so I hadn’t seen what has been said or written until last night. I allowed myself a look last night. It means a lot. For example, someone stopped me when I was driving in and made me wind down the window and said ‘thank you very much’. That was a nice moment. Hopefully this week will go well, I can score some runs and then go home.When did you decide that this would be your last series?

It’s hard to put into words but there have been signs in my mind over the last six months that this was going to happen. I told Rooty before the game and then Trevor during the game.Why do it before the last Test?

In this day and age it’s very hard to keep anything quiet. If it were 2-2 I’d have had to keep my mouth shut. When you do media you get asked questions so it’s hard to constantly lie, though I’ve been pretty good at it! But there’s certain questions you’re asked and you know you’re not being true to yourself. If it were 2-2 I’d have kept my mouth shut but, once you’ve made a decision like that, it’s always in the back of your mind. As soon as I told Rooty I felt more of a release.What have your personal highlights been?

You can’t really look past those two away series where I was man of the series and we won, in Australia and India. That was the best I could play and probably, in my career as a whole, I can look back and say I probably became the best player I could become. That actually means quite a lot to me. Yes, I’ve never been the most talented cricketer, and I don’t pretend I was, but I definitely think I got everything out of my ability.Anything you’d do differently?

Of course there are decisions in hindsight that you question. Clearly the KP affair was a tough year, there’s no doubt about that. The fall-out of that wasn’t great for English cricket and wasn’t great for me. I was involved in that decision without being the bloke who actually made the final decision.What would it mean to you to finish on a high here?

That would be fantastic but it would be great for England to win, most importantly – 4-1 sounds better than 3-2. But if I could play a really good innings that would be fantastic.Can you tell us about the moment you told your team-mates?

I was a couple of beers in, which I needed to be otherwise I would have cried more than I actually did. I managed to hold it together. At the end of the game I just said ‘this might be good news for some and sad for others but it’s time. I’ve done my bit and if picked the next game it will be my last one.’ That’s kind of all I said. There was a bit of silence, then Mo said something, we all laughed and everyone got on with it. We had a nice evening in the changing room.You mentioned there had been signs in the last six months; what were those signs?

I’ve always had that mental edge. I’ve always been mentally incredibly tough and had that edge to everything I’ve done. But that edge had kind of gone. The stuff I’d found easy before wasn’t quite there. That to me that was the biggest thing.Alastair Cook brought up his fifth Test double century•Getty Images

Did you consider asking for six months off and then taking another look at this decision?

It did cross my mind briefly as the decision became clearer in my mind but, if you’re looking at the last two or three years, I haven’t played huge amounts of games. I’ve never struggled with getting on another plane or ever thought ‘here’s another game of cricket’. I’ve never struggled with that. When I’ve been talking about that little mental edge I’ve lost, if you have six months off and then come back, I don’t think it would have been there. Once the decision is in your mind, you ask people about it along the way and they say ‘when you know, you know’ and I honestly think that’s so true. For me, anyway.What do you think of the theory that, as an old-school batsman, you’re the last of a dying breed?

Naturally kids are going to be attracted by the razzmatazz of Twenty20 cricket. I’ve seen it when youngsters have come into the Essex team. Their attacking game is better than their defensive game. That’s fact, I believe. I’m not sure I’m the last of a dying breed, but there will certainly be less cricketers of my ilk who are naturally suited to red-ball cricket rather than white-ball cricket. The kids will have a diet of T20. We had it when I was younger but we still built any innings for the first five. We didn’t think ‘I’ll whack it over the keeper’s head third ball.’ I don’t think we should be scared of that. We have to embrace it and we are embracing it. If we play less Test cricket, which might happen, we might place more importance on it.Was the fall-out from KP situation your lowest point?

It could have been handled differently. The moment Andrew Strauss came on board and said he was making the decision, personally for me that was the best thing that could have happened. I have a regret over it, it wasn’t great for English cricket. The end of the Sri Lanka series and the second Test against India at Lord’s – that period – that was the lowest point.You’re happy you had the stubbornness to carry on?

Absolutely. That was when it was real tough and I didn’t throw the towel in. I still thought I was the best man for the job and the right man to be captain at that time. It wasn’t easy. I could have taken the easy option but I didn’t. And I got the – that sounds selfish – the team got the reward winning the 2015 Ashes, which was just brilliant.Who was the toughest opponent you faced?

I think I must regret getting Ishant Sharma out as my wicket, because he’s kind of got his revenge since getting me out constantly over the last couple of series. The ball going away from me from around the wicket I found the hardest to conquer. But in general, a bowler who maybe is not the quickest but constantly hits line and lengths – it goes back to when I played as an 11-year-old and a 60-year-old dropped it on a length. I never had the power or the shots to knock bowlers off their lengths. So a bowler who hangs it there and doesn’t give me the pace to work with, that I found the hardest.Have you had a chance to think about what comes next? Essex would like you to stay in the game.

It’s nice of them to say that. I’m still going to play for Essex and I am really looking forward to that. It would be a big step going from all I have ever lived for is playing cricket and chasing my dreams to suddenly not having that, that would be a big thing, so it’s great Essex still want me. I am determined after a break to score some runs for them and help them win some trophies. There’s some great people. If mentally I don’t have that buzz I won’t hang around. I have never done media or coaching, just focussed on scoring runs for Essex and England. Whenever this day came I will cross that bridge. I imagine I will be changing nappies after what happened with Isobel – there will be some payback for that – but we’ll see what happens in the new year. It’s exciting.Did you have to sacrifice a lot to pursue this career in cricket?

It wasn’t hard sacrificing. I was stubborn enough and knew what I wanted to do. Missing a stag trip or a lad’s party, it was because it was the right thing to do. It wasn’t a sacrifice. But you rely on other people, with the family, farming … that wouldn’t be there to come back to if it wasn’t for people like Alice’s mum and dad, their family, the friends who help Alice. So they have probably put more of a sacrifice in than I have to make sure that, when I do go home, things are still running smoothly. It’s not just my effort, yes I have put stuff in on my game but to have that to come back to is very special. They have sacrificed more than I have.What made you fall in love with the game in the first place?

The battle between bat and ball. It’s a one-on-one thing. I love that stuff, but you play it in a team. I love the individual sport stuff but the experiences I’ve had with some great people over 12 or 15 years … if you’re on your own in an individual sport I don’t think you get that. That individual thing: me versus the bowler, but you get that team as well, and that’s why it suits me so well.How have you changed as a person since your debut and do you think people might appreciate more now how tough opening the batting is?

I’m sure I’ve changed as a person. I’ve become more confident in certain situations. The one thing about captaincy is that it gives you a chance to grow. It throws you into so many different situations that you can only grow as a person. I hope I’m still the same person as when I started. I think those who know me best would say that. They’ll still same I’m stubborn; they’ll still say I’m single-minded and hopefully still okay to be around. And I think everyone knows opening is the toughest job in the team. I’m still going to say that now I’ve finished.What’s your assessment of where the team is now and where it’s going? Is this a chance for Joe to put his stamp on the team?

I think he is putting his stamp on the team. He’s growing every day into the role. As I found, I was a very different captain in the first couple of years to the second couple. I see that with Rooty. I think the team is in a really good space in home series. I think we’re an incredibly good side at home. So the challenge is, can we be more successful abroad? And be a bit more consistent. This team now is more talented than any I’ve played in. They can do special things on their day. It’s just a question of whether they can be more consistent and more adept away from home.

The New Zealand legspinner replaces injured Afghanistan left-arm wristspinner Zahir Khan

ESPNcricinfo staff10-Apr-2018New Zealand legspinner Ish Sodhi is set for his maiden IPL stint after being signed by Rajasthan Royals as a replacement for the injured left-arm wristspinner Zahir Khan. Sodhi, currently the No. 4 T20I bowler, has been acquired at his base price of INR 50 lakh (USD 77,000).Zahir was one among four Afghanistan players, apart from Mohammad Nabi, Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Rashid Khan, bought at the player auction in January. Zahir, who had set his base price at INR 20 lakh, was acquired for three times that amount. He caught the eye of the franchise during the Under-19 World Cup in New Zealand in January.In January 2017, Sodhi picked up the second-best figures in Australia’s Big Bash League while playing for Adelaide Strikers. Incidentally, his 6 for 11 came after he was signed as a replacement for England’s Chris Jordan towards the end of the season.Sodhi has picked up 102 wickets in 92 T20s at an average of 23.09 and economy of 7.66. Only a week ago, Sodhi made news for his lower-order batting that helped New Zealand salvage a thrilling draw against England in Christchurch.Sodhi isn’t entirely unfamiliar to bowling in India, having previously been part of two New Zealand A tours to the country. He also featured in their World T20 campaign in 2016 as well as in New Zealand’s limited-overs squad during their tour of India in September, as a replacement for Todd Astle.

Kent’s irritation at missing out on promotion went some way to explaining the defiance of their skipper Sam Northeast

ECB Reporters Network23-Sep-2016
ScorecardSam Northeast signed off the season with another hundred•Getty Images

Kent’s irritation at missing out on promotion went some way to explaining the defiance of their skipper Sam Northeast who, on the final day of the Specsavers Championship campaign, elected to notch his fifth first-class ton of the summer rather than conspiring in any sort of last-day contrivance with Division Two champions Essex.The top two sides in the second tier finally shook hands on a draw at 4.20pm, by which time Kent had reached 288 for 5 declared for an overall lead in the match of 437.Gordon Hollins, the ECB’s chief operating officer, presented Essex with their trophy and winners’ cheque soon after, leaving Kent contemplating another season in the lower ranks and to mull over the opening match of the 2016 campaign at New Road, where not a ball was bowled over the four days.

Masters bows out in familiar surroundings

Essex seamer David Masters signed off on his 16-year first-class career with one final maiden on the ground where it all began for him as a Kent rookie.
“The lads said I must bowl the last over of the game which I guess was fitting, but it was a really nice gesture.
“I hadn’t expected Kent to line up in a guard of honour when I went out to bat either, it was a bit of a shock if I’m honest, but it was a lovely touch all the same.
“As farewell games go it doesn’t really get any better than that. On my old ground and with my dad and family all here watching. Added to which I’ve now won both the one-day trophies as well as the Championship Division Two title.
“I’m feeling complete as a cricketer, content with what I’ve achieved and proud of what Essex have done during my time with the club.
“Of course, I thank Essex for giving me so many opportunities and Kent and Leicestershire for giving me such a good start. I’ll never have enough thanks for Alan Ealham at Kent who took a punt on me and was the first to say ‘this boy’s got something’. I hope I’ve repaid his faith.”

The outcome of the Worcestershire match and Kent’s subsequent appeal still raises the blood pressure of supporters down in the Garden of England, and Northeast, as well as the county’s chairman, George Kennedy, have been reluctant to let the matter drop.Ahead of the final round, Kennedy said: “That Kent only received five points from that abandonment, when as the away team we were entirely blameless, still rankles with me. It can be argued it denied us the chance to play for 19 more points.”So, after Kent’s failure to make Essex follow on on the fourth and final morning, the top two sides had only bragging rights and averages to play for on the last day of the summer. And, having seen his side lose four early wickets in the quest for quick runs, Northeast took the pragmatic approach and let his bat do the talking.Starting their second innings within 15 minutes of the final day’s start, Kent – who banked a first innings lead of 149 – lost Daniel Bell-Drummond to the fifth ball of the innings. Playing across a David Masters off-cutter, the right-hander went leg before without scoring.With two boundaries quickly to his name, Joe Denly’s positivity got the better of him when he charged down the track to Matt Dixon only to drive into the hands of Nick Browne at extra cover to make it 13 for 2.Sean Dickson also perished when attempting the extravagant, leaning into a drive to a Will Rhodes length ball the South African right-hander edged to Varun Chopra at slip.The hosts lost first innings top-scorer Darren Stevens in the mid-session when he nicked a leg-glance against Masters to the keeper to depart for 18.Northeast and Will Gidman flourished either side of tea, adding an unbroken 185 for the sixth wicket with Northeast reaching three figures just before the interval from 119 balls and with 15 fours.In the final session Gidman, the on-loan all-rounder from Nottinghamshire, posted his fifth fifty in five starts for Kent, leaving Northeast to make hay against some part-time bowling to add an unbeaten 178 to his season’s previous three-figure scores of 191, 190, 189, and 166* and finish the summer with over 2,000 runs in all formats.Fittingly, Masters, the Essex stalwart who started his career with Kent, sent down the final over – it was a maiden.Essex had started the day on 289 for 9 and needing three to save the follow-on, a target they achieved within nine deliveries when Dixon’s airy drive at Matt Coles flew off a thick inside edge to long leg for the required runs.Dixon heaved at the next delivery to spoon a catch to Mitch Claydon at mid-on to end the innings with Essex on 292 all out.Without collusion between the skippers, the game duly petered out into a stalemate. Kent banked 13 points and Essex 10.

If what MS Dhoni says is to be gone by, another good start by the top three in the final T20I could mean no batting for Yuvraj Singh and Hardik Pandya

Sidharth Monga29-Jan-20162:39

‘Didn’t want to play spinners in first six overs’ – Dhoni

Yuvraj Singh and Hardik Pandya were brought into the Indian T20 side to address the lack of big hitters, but there is a good chance they might come back from Australia having contributed only with the ball and in the field. If what MS Dhoni says is to be gone by, another good start by the top three in the final T20 international could mean no batting for Yuvraj and Pandya. Dhoni said he was against experimentation even though India wrapped up the series win in Melbourne, but then again Dhoni also ruled out playing Rishi Dhawan precisely two days before he was picked in the ODI XI.The final T20I in Sydney on Sunday will be a dead rubber, and Dhoni was asked if India would go out of the way to see what potential Pandya held and what kind of form Yuvraj was in. “It is a difficult one,” Dhoni said. “Experiment word is never there with the Indian team. It is never there. Yes we want to see what Yuvraj will do in the batting, we want to see what Hardik can do, but where is the opportunity? That also we have to see.”We can’t make them open. Virat [Kohli] is batting very well at No. 3. If the partnership goes on, and if it is the 15th or the 16th over, then it is my time to come in and play the big shots. It will be difficult for them, but with a few of the games coming up maybe they will get better chances. But as I said there won’t be any experimentation. If an opportunity arises definitely they will get a chance to bat.”Yuvraj and Pandya, though, have freed Dhoni up to play around with his bowling options. After Australia got off to a good start in their chase, R Ashwin picked up a wicket to give India a sniff, but by that time India’s four main bowlers had exhausted 10 of their overs. This was a crucial period with Australia past half of their target at the halfway mark. The next two overs were bowled by Pandya and Yuvraj, and both brought a wicket each.”The strength of the piechucker [Yuvraj] is his bowling,” Dhoni joked. “He bowled really well. You need more individuals who can do more than one job in the field. Especially if all of them are good fielders, and if they can contribute with bat and ball if needed. Just adds to the strength of the side. Sometimes in T20 you need to bowl only one over, and once the captain has given you that one over, irrespective of whether it is good or bad that one over is out of the equation. That actually helps you. That one over. By the time the batsman figures out what you are trying to do you get rid of one over.”It helps us because Pandya also bowled decently well (1 for 17 in two overs). Both of them together will be very good. Not to forget we have [Suresh] Raina too. If needed he can also bowl if there are many left-handers in the opposition. Yuvi bowled really well, hit the areas, and with time he will get better and better because he is that sort of player.”Pandya has really impressed Dhoni, and might leapfrog Rishi and Stuart Binny as the seaming allrounder in ODIs too. While counting the positives from the tour, Dhoni said: “Also the performance of Hardik as a bowler. Still it will be tough for him to bowl 10 overs in an ODI game but if others are contributing a few overs here and there then we can look to have him in the side. That can strengthen our batting also and at the same time put pressure on the opposition.”It is in foreign conditions that India really need that extra seamer because the spinners become less effective, and this is where Dhoni wants the ICC, too, to stop experimenting. When asked about the luxury his spinners provide him, Dhoni said: “All of a sudden the spinners are bowling well. Not like they were bowling badly but we have to see the rule changes also. I think it is quite against the spinners. I feel they will have to do something with the rules [in ODIs]. In T20 you have the five fielders outside throughout. You have that extra fielder [as opposed to ODIs where only four fielders are allowed outside the circle until the start of the 41st over]. Let’s see how it goes.”

A five-wicket haul by Sulieman Benn restricted Jamaica to 266 for 8 after a strong start by the hosts on the opening day of the Regional Four-Day final at Sabina Park

ESPNcricinfo staff14-Apr-2012
ScorecardA five-wicket haul by Sulieman Benn restricted Jamaica to 266 for 8 after a strong start by the hosts on the opening day of the Regional Four-Day final at Sabina Park.Jamaica got off to a sound start after opting to bat, with their openers adding 46. The second-wicket pair of Brenton Parchment and Donovan Pagon strengthened that position by adding 108. Benn broke the stand when he had Parchment caught for 58. The second session witnessed a collapse of five wickets for 41 runs. Pagon fell to Benn for 71, and the left-arm spinner found support from the seamer Carlos Brathwaite, who chipped in with three wickets.The captain Tamar Lambert and Danza Hyatt too fell cheaply to the pair. Nikita Miller and Sheldon Cotterrell were at the crease with an unbeaten stand of 27 at stumps.

A round-up of two matches of the SuperSport Series 2011-12

ESPNcricinfo staff18-Dec-2011The Dolphins made a brave fist of a target of 442, riding on Divan van Wyk’s century, but fell 91 short against Warriors at St George’s Park. van Wyk’s was a lone effort, considering that no other batsman managed to cross fifty. Basheer Walters and Simon Harmer shared seven wickets between them in the second innings to hand Warriors their first win of the season.The Warriors opted to bat but found themselves in trouble on the first day at 26 for 3. Colin Ingram and Wayne Parnell began the repair work with a stand of 81 for the fifth wicket. Parnell struck Tabraiz Shamsi for a six to bring up the 150, but at 44 perished to Robert Frylinck, who took two wickets in an over. Ingram was supported by Walters, who made an exact 50 at No.11. Ingram went on to score 121 before he was dismissed by Kyle Abbott, who took four wickets. Frylinck too finished with a four-for.Parnell was in good form with the ball on the second day, taking 3 for 17 and sharing six wickets with Rusty Theron as the pair shot out Dolphins for 223. Friedel de Wet made 73, but he was the only batsman to pass fifty as his team conceded a lead of 72.The Warriors strenghthened their advantage the following day, thanks to JT Smuts, who made a century, and Arno Jacobs, who made 51. The opener Kelly Smuts gave Warriors command with 49, before his brother took over. Jacobs and JT Smuts added 110 for the third wicket but the Dolphins hit back with middle-order strikes. Parnell and Athenkosi Dyili frustrated the opposition with a stand of 65 for the seventh wicket. The Warriors declared at 369, with Abbott and Frylinck taking three-wicket hauls.Faced with a target of 442, Dolphins took off confidently. Van Wyk and Khaylihle Zondo scored quickly, adding 80 for the first wicket before Harmer got one to turn and bounce, forcing Zondo to fend to silly point. Van Wyk progressed to 102 on the final day. Harmer had him caught eight overs before lunch. The Dolphins went into the final session at 310 for 6 but failed to stick it out as they were bowled out for 350.In another high-scoring encounter, at Bloemfontein, Knights and Titans played out a draw, as the latter came close to chasing down 336. Martin van Jaarsveld blasted an unbeaten 167, off 161 balls but it wasn’t enough as the Titans fell short of the target by 33 runs.The Titans chose to field, but were made to regret that decision as the Knights piled on 438 in just a shade over 90 overs. Riley Rossouw and Morne van Wyk smashed 145 and 139 respectively, to guide Knights’ first-innings effort. Rowan Richards, the left-arm seamer, finished with 5 for 87.The Titans hit back with a first-innings lead of 23, helped by centuries by Farhaan Behardian (141) and Faff de Plessis (153). Quinton Friend took 5 for 53. Boeta Dippenaar (112) and Obus Pienaar (83) led Knights’ effort in their second innings as they were bowled out for 358.van Jaarsveld led by example on the final day, smashing 18 fours and three sixes in his knock. Malusi Siboto, the right-arm seamer, took three wickets as Titans ended on 303 for 6.

West Indies have followed up their 3-1 win in the ODI series by taking the Twenty20 series by the same score line, but they needed a Super Over to get past Pakistan in the 4th T20, in Guyana

ESPNcricinfo staff12-Sep-2011
ScorecardWest Indies have followed up their 3-1 win in the ODI series by taking the Twenty20 series by the same score line, but they needed a Super Over to get past Pakistan in the 4th T20, in Guyana. After both teams reached 72 in their allotted overs, Stacy-Ann King struck two fours in the Super Over, and got nine runs off the five balls she faced. A wide from Sadia Yousuf made it 10 runs in the over. That was always going to be a difficult target in a match when both sides had scored at 3.60. Pakistan could only get seven and West Indies took the series.Both teams’ innings had followed almost identical paths. Pakistan, put in to bat, lost their first five wickets for 33 runs, while West Indies, chasing, lost their first five for 31. Both teams were 52 for 7 and then 8 for 64. They both had three fours each in their innings, though Pakistan had one six. It was the two fours in the Super Over that made the difference for West Indies though.Anisa Mohammed, who has been West Indies’ best bowler over the ODIs and Twenty20s so far, was actually their most expensive bowler on the day, giving away 24 runs in her four overs, though she did take two wickets. Shanel Daley put in an all-round performance taking 3 for 9 and then top-scoring with 28 off 42 runs.

David Hussey, the Australia and Victoria batsman, will lead Nottinghamshire in the Friends Provident Twenty20 competition this English domestic season

Cricinfo staff21-May-2010David Hussey, the Australia and Victoria batsman, will lead Nottinghamshire in the Friends Provident Twenty20 competition this English domestic season. Hussey is the club’s second overseas player, joining his Australia Twenty20 team-mate, left-arm fast bowler Dirk Nannes.Hussey will only lead the club during the Twenty20 tournament, while Chris Read will resume his duties as captain in the 40-over one-day competition and the County Championship.”Captaining in Twenty20 cricket can be very intense and I feel that it’s best for me and the team if I take a break and draw on David Hussey’s experience,” Read said. “David has an excellent record in this format and he’ll have his own ideas on how the team should approach matches that I’m sure we’ll all learn from.”He’ll have my full support and the support of every player in the dressing room.”Hussey has played 23 Twenty20 internationals for Australia, most recently in the ICC World Twenty20, and has scored 512 runs at 28.44. He starred for his team in the World Twenty20 final against England, making 59 to help Australia recover to a competitive score after a poor start, but one they failed to defend.

The trio complete an 18-man squad, with no one missing out from the squad that played T20Is against Bangladesh in July

ESPNcricinfo staff19-Aug-2021Sean Williams, Brendan Taylor, and Craig Ervine will be available for Zimbabwe again after being named in an 18-man squad for their limited-overs tours of Ireland and Scotland this month. Zimbabwe are due to play five T20Is to start the tour against Ireland from August 27, followed by three World Cup Super League ODIs at Stormont. They will then head to Scotland for three T20Is.Taylor had been rested from Zimbabwe’s T20I squad for the home series against Bangladesh last month, while Williams and Ervine missed out on all three formats against Bangaldesh after coming into contact with people who tested positive for Covid-19. The rest of the touring squad is the same as the 15-man squad that played against Bangladesh in the T20I series under Sikandar Raza.Zimbabwe have not qualified for the upcoming T20 World Cup, but the ODIs against Ireland will be a chance for them to drag themselves off the bottom of the World Cup Super league points table and push for qualification for the 2023 ODI World Cup. In their most recent ODI series, Zimbabwe were swept 3-0 at home by Bangladesh. As for Ireland, they are placed seventh on the Super League table, although they have had the benefit of playing 12 matches; Zimbabwe have played only six.Zimbabwe squad: Brendan Taylor, Ryan Burl, Regis Chakabva, Tendai Chatara, Craig Ervine, Luke Jongwe, Tinashe Kamunhukamwe, Wessly Madhevere, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Wellington Masakadza, Tarisai Musakanda, Blessing Muzarabani, Dion Myers, Richard Ngarava, Sikandar Raza, Milton Shumba, Donald Tiripano, Sean Williams

“Shanto is the sort of guy who has the mentality to take responsibility as a challenge”

Mohammad Isam13-Mar-2024When Najmul Hossain Shanto reached his century in Chattogram, Mushfiqur Rahim charged towards him with a big smile on his face, and arms raised. This was Shanto’s second century as Bangladesh captain, coming shortly after the BCB declared him as their main man across formats.Shanto is an agent of change at a pivotal time in Bangladesh cricket. Coach Chandika Hathurusinghe backs him and by the looks of it, so do the senior cricketers currently in the team.Shanto added 69 runs for the fourth wicket with Mahmudullah and 165 runs for the unbroken fifth wicket with Mushfiqur, who said that Shanto steps up as a batter with added responsibility.Related

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• Silverwood welcomes 'great rivalry' with Bangladesh: 'We need good competition'

“Shanto thoroughly deserved the century,” Mushfiqur said. “He was excellent. It was a one-man show tonight. I think leadership brings out the best in some individuals. Shanto is definitely one of them. He really enjoys the captaincy. Shanto is the sort of guy who has the mentality to take responsibility as a challenge. I knew that he would score runs at the highest level.”Atmosphere is very important. We don’t worry about the outcome. We try to keep our processes intact. We don’t expect all seven batters to get centuries every day but as long as he sticks to his strengths and practice routines, it was just a matter of time.”Mushfiqur said that Shanto has grown as a batter as he now makes the best use of good starts. He was impressed by how Shanto managed to play after reaching the century. “He batted very well today. He plays more fluently. He can be more dominating. He used to get 50s or 60s after getting a good start but now he is playing long innings.”The way he took a single to mid-on so easily just after getting that hundred, it showed that he was so calm and thoughtful towards the team. We kept telling each other that we should keep getting the next 20 or 30 runs, so that they don’t get a sniff in vital moments.”Mushfiqur also credited Mahmudullah for his run-a-ball 37 that set the tone for Bangladesh’s chase after they lost three early wickets.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

“We had a good partnership but the real work was done by (Mahmudullah) Riyad bhai and Shanto. The ball was new so they could swing the ball. The dew hadn’t taken full effect. We lost early wickets too. Shanto and Riyad bhai ensured we were always ahead of the required run rate because of their partnership. They made life easy for me.”It is called experience. After that big over, he struck Hasaranga down the ground for a six. When you put the opposition’s best bowler under pressure, they have a lot to think. They allow singles rather than going for wickets, which allows the partnership to go big. Experience is really a big thing. Shanto struggled at the start but this is a partnership game. First credit for this win must go to Riyad , for showing the intent,” he said.Mushfiqur himself played an important hand, particularly in the way he handled Sri Lanka’s main bowler, Wanindu Hasaranga. He took 29 runs off 25 balls off the legspinner, who has not yet got this batter out in eight innings in all formats.”When you play a bowler for a long time, you feel confident against him. The opposite also happens. I have been able to pick him. Hasaranga is a really good bowler, so I want to ensure he doesn’t have much impact on the game. The more I play against him, I feel more comfortable.”When you face a wrist spinner, he will bowl you a flipper, googly, legspin and top spin. You can’t always pick it from the hand. Sweep is a good option to have. You have to sweep against the good ball. If you can execute it well, it puts pressure back on the bowler.”