Tailor-made for adversity

He may be a bit vulnerable with his wicket-keeping gloves on, but there have never been any doubts about his batting. You will probably never see him pull a 'Shakib' and gift the opponents an unexpected wicket.

Mushfiqur Rahim's mature approach yesterday showed just why he is rated as Bangladesh's best Test batsman. He helped Bangladesh revive their innings not once, but twice at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium in Hyderabad.

In the first partnership, he was more of a bystander and watched Shakib Al Hasan hit the ball to every corner of the park. For his part, he employed the sweep time and again against the spinners and hit a few through the covers, but they were all safe shots. Together the duo eased the early tension that was created after three quick wickets fell.

However, his real challenge came in the second phase after Shakib threw away his wicket. It was like asking Mushfiqur to start all over again in a snakes and ladders game.

He tried to build a partnership with Sabbir Rahman, but the latter lost his wicket quickly, forcing Mushfiqur to rebuild the innings with Mehedi Hasan Miraz, who prior to yesterday's game had a highest Test score of 10.

He changed his approach and started to spend as much as time possible at the crease, illustrated by the fact that it took him 35 balls to go from 46 to 50.

Aside from the last over of the day, when a bouncer from Ishant Sharma hit his injured hand, he never looked troubled.

According to Shakib, Mushfiqur enjoys playing with the tail. That is one of the reasons why Bangladesh's best Test batsman comes in at six.

“I think he likes those situations…when the situation is tough. He likes to stand up and do the hard work for the team and that character has helped him play for Bangladesh for so long,” said Shakib.

Shakib also went to bat for Mushfiqur's keeping skill.

“At this moment he likes both. He is someone who likes to take the challenge. If you want him to bat at the top he will do that, but he still wants to keep.

“I don't think it will be wise for him and for the team if he puts his gloves away and plays as a batsman. I think whatever he is doing at the moment -- keeping, batting and captaincy -- it's obviously very difficult for him, but he is someone who likes to do that stuff,” said the all-rounder.