I don’t blame one particular person: Coach

Bangladesh coach Chandika Hathurusingha said he was extremely disappointed with the second-innings batting collapse in the Tigers’ first Test against New Zealand, but refused to blame it on careless shot selection from his senior batsmen.

“I don’t blame one particular person. It’s all about as a batting group. If you look at it that way, I think we did not bat well in the second innings,” said the Sri Lankan coach while talking to the reporters after his team’s training session was suspended due to inclement weather at the Hagley Oval today.

“What was going on in their heads, I don’t know? For them to go and bat the way they batted in the second innings, it definitely has something to do with how they think and how they approached the second innings. That we have discussed. We are all disappointed. I’m sure we will rectify that,” the coach said bitterly.

He was however extremely heartened by the courage his two injured players had shown in the dire situation.

“That was very courageous. Imrul [Kayes]and him [Mushfiqur Rahim] both. After leaving on a stretcher for Imrul to come back to bat for a few overs and Mushfiqur going out with the thumb, that shows how passionate these players are for their country,” Hatuhrusingha recalled.

Imrul was stretchered off the ground on the fourth evening after putting up 46 runs for the opening stand with Tamim Iqbal. His departure sparked a second innings collapse as Bangladesh were bundled out for 160 and eventually lost the first Test by seven wickets despite scoring 595 before declaring their first innings at the Basin Reserve.

Mushfiqur came out with a fractured thumb and was struck by a bouncer on the back of his helmet before being stretchered off with a mild concussion in the first session of the final day.