Former Bangladesh pace bowling coach Shaun Tait is observing the current Test series against Australia with a sense of professional satisfaction. In an exclusive interview, the former Australian speedster reflected on his tenure with the Bangladesh squad and analyzed the current trajectory of their pace unit. Tait expressed immense pride in the team’s recent performances, particularly as they challenge his home country. “I’m very proud of them, I must say. Even though they’re playing against my home country, I’m just so pleased to watch them do well,” he stated.
Addressing the current composition of the squad, Tait noted that Bangladesh is missing Nahid Rana, but the way the rest of the pack has stepped up suggests they are growing in strength. He recalled previous discussions regarding the team’s structure, noting, “I think I did an interview with you maybe when I was bowling coach and I feel we spoke about it as I said to you that there’s some great depth there.” He emphasized that the current group of bowlers possesses the versatility to excel across all three formats, suggesting the team is poised to thrive for several years.
Tait specifically addressed the development of Hasan Mahmud, praising the pacer’s resilience following his recovery from an elbow injury. He highlighted the importance of Mahmud’s stint in county cricket with Kent, which he believes was vital for the bowler’s confidence. “We know he can play Test cricket but with his yorkers he can also play T20Is,” Tait remarked, noting that Mahmud’s calm demeanor is a significant asset. Unlike the stereotypical aggressive fast bowler, Mahmud is described by Tait as an intelligent and humble individual who processes his cricket with great clarity.
Regarding Mahmud’s tactical approach, Tait observed that the pacer understands his physical limitations regarding raw speed and compensates through intelligent variation. “I’m looking at this Test match, he’s just bowling really boring which is exactly what you need to do in Test cricket as you just need to bowl a boring length, a good length all the time,” Tait explained. He noted that the best bowlers in history rely on this consistency, a trait he sees developing rapidly within the current Bangladesh setup.
Tait also addressed the shift in bowling lengths, noting that Bangladesh pacers have moved away from the tendency to bowl short in overseas conditions. “100%. You’re exactly right there. That’s a big thing. If you’re pitching the ball up in Test cricket, any form of cricket. You know, we used to talk about this with them when I was there, and I think they’ve continued that even since I’ve left,” he said. He emphasized that pitching the ball up, even to the point of being slightly too full, is superior to bowling short, a philosophy he believes the coaching staff continues to instill.
The former coach believes that Bangladesh is finally moving past its historical reliance on spin-heavy attacks. “I think I said this before, it just takes Bangladesh cricket to understand that their strength right now is fast bowling. That’s definitely the case and I believe Bangladesh’s strength at the moment in their cricket is fast bowling,” Tait asserted. He credited the improvement in local pitch preparation as a catalyst for this shift, allowing pacers to gain more confidence in their home conditions.
When asked about his core coaching philosophy, Tait reiterated the importance of simplicity. “Well, look, I only played three Test matches, but what I do know is the best bowlers of all time have different attributes, but one thing they all do is bowl really consistent, and like you said keep it simple,” he explained. He noted that his conversations with bowlers like Nahid Rana over the past year focused heavily on this mantra, emphasizing that a bowler hitting 150 kilometers per hour does not need an excessive repertoire of slower balls.
Tait believes that Hasan Mahmud inherently understands this simplicity. “Yeah, 100%. I think he already knew that even before I got there. I think the best thing with these fast bowlers is if you can create a happy environment for them,” he added. By fostering a positive atmosphere, Tait believes the team has allowed its natural talents to flourish without the burden of over-complicating their roles on the field.
Looking ahead, Tait remains optimistic about the future of Bangladesh’s pace attack. He believes that the current crop of bowlers is not just a temporary spike in performance but a sustainable evolution of the national team’s capabilities. By maintaining a consistent, boring length and focusing on the fundamentals, he expects the team to continue challenging major cricketing nations, regardless of the venue or the specific conditions they encounter.
I mean he knowshe cannot bowl 150-plus as he doesn’t have that much pace so he knows that he has to work out on his variations and is that one of his biggest strengths?
And it’s the same thing, it’s the same thing in South Africa.
And I think, I mean a lot of my conversations with Nahid Rana even over the last 12 months were just, just keep it simple.
Even if there’s a couple of injuries, there are other guys to come in and stand up.
The medical staff have obviously done a good job with him.
I became quite good friends with him and I’m so pleased to see him do well.
Extremely calm, very mild-mannered, nice person, you know.
He’s a very level-minded person.Coming to Australia and, and performing like that is just fantastic.
I think sometimes too much credit goes to the coaches, and, and I think the coaches, as coaches we only guide them.
I think, I think at the end of the day the players really do deserve the credit.
