Pace-friendly Syhlet encourages Williams and Zimbabwe ahead of their test encounter against Bangladesh on this venue.
Pace-friendly conditions at Syhlet has encouraged Zimbabwe skipper Sean Williams ahead of their match against Bangladesh.
Phil Simmons, the head coach of Bangladesh, has previously stated that they would want to play the Test on a real wicket as opposed to a surface that is spin-friendly, which is the tried-and-true method that Bangladesh uses when hosting Test matches. They have a handful of good pacers who can exploit that, Williams continued.
“I think we have had good preparation, particularly back in Zimbabwe, the guys have had a lot of game time. Our seamers have been bowling pretty well back there. The make-up and mental side of the team, the atmosphere in the group is really bubbly. It has been awesome,” Williams, who made his return to the Test squad for this tour after missing Zimbabwe’s previous Test against Ireland, told reporters at Sylhet on Friday.
“It is a little bit of a different pitch this time. Back then it was slower and lower, it had a little bit of spin. This time there’s more grass and it is seam-friendly,” he said
“Majority of the wickets go to seamers here. It is a seamer-friendly surface. We have some skilled and world renowned bowlers in our side. We have Blessing Muzarabani and Richard Ngarava, apart from Victor Nyauchi and Trevor Gwandu coming through as well. It is going to be an interesting contest,” he said.
Although Williams acknowledged that they are fully aware of Bangladesh’s pace attack, he maintained that they are not focussing all of their attention on Nahid Rana, the new pace sensation. In addition, he stated that he is fully aware of the impending struggle and that success requires mental focus.
“I have toured Bangladesh so many times. It is pretty simple. The sleep, hydration and food is important to come across to this side of the world. According to the wickets, you have to identify the things and remove distractions. You have to get mentally focused, which is the key,” said Williams.
“Both teams have had great preparation but it will go down to the mental side of preparation, to see how the boys will cope and remove the distractions,” he concluded.