The black-soil wicket at Mirpur is the type of surface that makes a spinner’s eyes gleam and a coach’s pulse race. But Mushtaq Ahmed, Bangladesh’s spin consultant, does not want that rush of adrenaline. His mantra is calm, not chaos; process, not passion. Whereas the Bangladesh team prepares to play the West Indies in the decider of this spin-laden series, Mushtaq is advising his bowlers to resist the temptation of becoming over-excited at the sight of a ball gripping the surface and turning square.
This is an important reminder at a crucial time. The surface in Mirpur, now under the supervision of English curator Tony Hemmings, is promising slow turn and variable bounce, which is the haven of bowlers like Nasum Ahmed or Rishad Hossain. The truth, bearing in mind Mushtaq’s words, is deeper: the error sources from spinners running after the magic ball from balls instead of delivering overs. The message, in fact, has little to do with the turf, but rather, the way of thinking: there’s a subtle difference in emphasis, but a very marked one as to the way in which Bangladesh hopes its spinners will conceive of their act.
When Excitement Becomes the Enemy
As Mushtaq knows, spin isn’t about excitement, but execution. “Process is everything,” he reminds the players. This is a deceptive truism that separates good bowling from great. In a turner, bowlers get too high on the pitch, bowling too full or too wide in search of immediate results, but Mushtaq’s patience in advising bowlers to bowl good overs rather than just balls shows the craftsman’s art.
Rishad’s Rise: Skill, Not Spell
Rishad’s final spell is easy to romanticize. The sharp wrong’un. The flight. The bounce. Mushtaq dispels that narrative haze with ease. It was not magic. It was a technique. Rishad’s success grew from repetition, line, and a repeatable action that is the holy trinity of leg-spin survival.
Young spin bowlers often succumb to the pressure of expectations on what is a turning pitch. Rishad did not. He bowled with abandon but yarded against the temptation to attack more than normal, exhibiting a maturity that suggests he has a future Test career ahead of him.
The Wrong’un That Could Trouble the World
Mushtaq’s faith in Rishad’s wrong’un carries a hint of prophecy. Rishad’s height and bounce make him a terrific nightmare for tail-enders who have difficulty reading the googly. Against sides like Australia or England, where the lower order can swing a bat, this may be Bangladesh’s silent weapon to the main in future Test matches. But Mushtaq is cautious: Rishad must earn a Test cap by consistent performance and not hype. The sub-text contains interest Bangladesh, long dependent on orthodox left-armers, may be at last introducing to its fold a leg-spinner with the ability to affect all forms of the game.
Mushtaq Ahmed is not merely conditioning finger positions or the wrong ’uns test. He is creating a change of mentality. The cricket culture, which has at times associated spin with extravagant performances, is being taught by him to think of calmness, repetition, and red-ball roots. If the spinners of Bangladesh can take that mentality on board, then they will not only be a force to be reckoned with in Mirpur, but they will be matchwinners everywhere.
His last lesson transcends coaching manuals: the best spinners are not those that turn it most but those that turn the rhythm of the game to their own favour.
Key Takeaway:
Bangladesh’s spin future depends less on turn and more on temperament and Mushtaq Ahmed just might be scripting that transformation.
Stay updated on the latest cricket news and exciting updates at Six6slive. Dive into our in-depth articles and analyses to connect with the action today!