'Even set batters struggle against him': Shanto praises Taijul after series sweep

It was Taijul Islam once again.

The left-arm spinner once more delivered a crucial breakthrough to help Bangladesh clinch a clean sweep over Pakistan in the two-match Test series. Bangladesh needed three wickets on the final day, while Pakistan required 121 runs when play resumed. Pakistan duo Mohammad Rizwan and Sajid Khan (36) took up the challenge positively and, within no time, the hosts were beginning to look slightly shaky.

Bangladesh skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto then took a tactical break to slow things down and break the batters' concentration, and the move paid off immediately. Taijul responded by removing the dangerous-looking Sajid with a short-of-length delivery that induced an outside edge as the batter threw his bat at it. Tanzid Hasan Tamim dived forward to complete a fine catch.

Taijul, who picked up his 18th five-wicket haul in Tests, brought Bangladesh back into the contest and it did not take long for the hosts to wrap things up. The left-arm spinner and Shoriful Islam shared the remaining two wickets, with the pacer denying Rizwan a well-deserved hundred.

Taijul, who bowled 31 overs relentlessly in the heat on the fourth day, had already played a key role in breaking the partnership after being brought into the attack by Shanto with the new ball. Quite a few eyebrows were raised when the Bangladesh skipper handed the new ball to Taijul, considering many expected a pacer to use the hard new Kookaburra instead. However, Taijul responded brilliantly by breaking the dangerous stand between Rizwan and Salman Ali Agha before returning in the very next over to remove Hasan Ali and expose the tail.

Shanto later said he had full confidence in Taijul's ability with the new ball.

"No, before the new ball came, you will see that I did a lot of in-and-out field placements because the condition of the ball was very bad and they were batting well. We were not really getting that kind of help. So we were waiting so that the runs would not get too high at that stage," said Najmul.

"In fact, we knew it would be difficult to bat with the new ball because we have quality spinners and pace bowlers, and we thought we might be able to trouble them again," he said.

"So Taijul bhai has bowled with the new ball many times in the past. The skills that Taijul bhai has and the way he bowls with the new ball make it very challenging for the batters, even set batters. So I tried to take this opportunity and Alhamdulillah, Taijul bhai was able to deliver for the team," he added.

While Taijul may not always generate massive headlines, it is fair to say he has been among the leading Test spinners in world cricket over the last three years. Taijul has picked up seven five-wicket hauls during this period and has taken more wickets than any other spinner currently operating in world cricket.

Since April 2022, Taijul has claimed 97 wickets from 19 Tests, while Nathan Lyon has taken 85 wickets from 22 Tests. Ravindra Jadeja sits third with 84 wickets from 25 Tests. Najmul added that he always expects a little extra from Taijul because of the standards he has consistently maintained.

"As a captain, I always expect a little more from Taijul bhai. Sometimes he may get a little carried away on the field, but he bowls for long periods and we still put that pressure on him because we know he has to bowl better," he said. "He has been delivering for so many years and will continue to do more in the future. It is good to see that."