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"Difficult To Survive..," Shanto Adopts 'Unique' Method To Counter SL Bowlers In Test Series

Debashis Sarangi

Najmul Hossain Shanto [Source: @TheYorkerBall/X]Najmul Hossain Shanto [Source: @TheYorkerBall/X]

Bangladesh's experienced batter Najmul Hossain Shanto has been working hard on his batting ahead of the upcoming Test series against Sri Lanka. Led by Shanto, the Tigers are set to face Sri Lanka in a riveting away series consisting of two matches in Galle and Colombo. 

Najmul Shanto's 'Sweep To Survive' Mantra For SL Tests

Ahead of the high-voltage series, skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto has been seen mastering the sweep and reverse sweep to dominate the Sri Lankan bowlers. 

The pitches in Sri Lanka generally assist spin bowlers, offering them significant turn throughout the Test match. 

Shanto reckons that implementing the sweep and reverse sweep could be an effective method to deal with the Sri Lankan spinners in their backyard. The southpaw thinks that he can avoid getting out LBW and explore scoring opportunities all around the park by strategically using these two shots in the upcoming series. 

However, as he summarises, overdoing these two shots won't help his cause, making him predictable against his opponents. 

"Where will we play? In Sri Lanka when the ball will be turning where will we score runs? In a wicket that will help spinners it is very difficult to survive by defending. In those kinds of spin-friendly wicket sweep is kind of a defense and why I am saying this is because it is a scoring option and the chance of getting out is very slim because you won't get leg before while chances of getting bowled is lesser," Shanto was quoted as saying by Cricbuzz. 
"It is not something that you can use all the time, but this is certainly a scoring option and in wickets where you are attacked by a lot of spinners and who are bowling in good areas for a long time," he added. 

Recently, Bangladesh revealed a robust Test squad for the Sri Lanka series. While Shanto was retained as the captain, Litton Das and Ebadot Hossain received recalls, with Tanzim Hasan Sakib and Mahmudul Hasan Joy getting axed from the team.