Reaching new heights
Rabeed Imam attacks the preconception that Bangladeshis are too vertically challenged to produce quick bowlers
Back in the 1980s - we are talking about the good old fun-filled days of amateur cricket here - the general notion in Bangladesh was that tall people bowled fast while the not so blessed with height pursued batting and spin bowling.
Bangladeshis are not generally a tall people so, you might think, will not produce too many quick bowlers. The average height struggles to reach 5ft 6in but it is not the land of pygmies as some descriptions suggest. It is absurd to think that a nation of 150m people will not have a proportion of tall and strong individuals. That said, the physical attributes of Bangladesh's early Test sides did not help this perception.
Until the emergence of Mashrafe bin Mortaza in late 2001, the squad was arguably the shortest in international cricket. When Mortaza arrived, tall and sturdy, for the first time Bangladesh had a quick bowler who forced batsmen on the back foot through disconcerting pace and bounce.
Another lanky teenager, Talha Jubaer, was also making rapid progress. West Indies great Andy Roberts said that Mortaza and Jubaer had the potential to bowl 90mph if, and that was a big if, they were carefully handled and remained clear of injuries. But Mortaza soon broke down and the prospect of seeing two fiery teenagers six-feet plus bowling with the new ball went on hold. A fit-again Mortaza did tour Australia in 2003 and earned the respect of Steve Waugh's team, often bowling well over 80mph. Anwar Hossain Munir, another tall pacer played one Test with Mortaza but failed to make an impact. But Mortaza and Jubaer regained fitness from career-threatening injuries at the same time while Anwar staked a claim again with consistent performances in domestic competitions and tour games. The U19 World Cup in 2004 also unearthed a firebrand in Kazi Shahdat Hossain who challenges Mortaza for the mantle of the country's quickest bowler. The four have since made it into the squad for the first Test series in England. Apart from establishing respect for the pace attack, it is also part of their mission to crush the myth that tall fast bowlers do not grow in Bangladesh.
And just in case there is need for a replacement, waiting in the wings is Shafaq al-Jabir, left-arm fast medium, height: 6ft 4in.
Banglas to watch
Enamul Haque Jr
A spell of four wickets for no runs in England's opening warm-up match of their 2003-04 tour propelled Enamul Haque Jr into the international spotlight at the tender age of 16. Four months after his Test debut he became a star in the Under-19 World Cup in Dhaka, taking 5 for 31 in the final of the Plate Championship as Bangladesh claimed an astonishing victory over Australia. Then he secured Bangladesh's maiden Test series victory by taking 18 wickets in the final three innings against Zimbabwe, including a career-best 7 for 95.
Habibul Bashar
The one established Test-class batsman in the Bangladeshi line-up, Bashar averages 34.83, including three centuries. A shy, quietly determined character, Bashar was not considered a natural leader but Dav Whatmore appointed him captain on becoming coach in 2003 and he has since thrived.
Mohammed Rafique
A self-taught player with the joie de vivre of a Lance Cairns or a Paul Adams, Rafique is Bangladesh's elder statesman, senior spinner and a focal point of team spirit. Early in his career, his bowling action came under scrutiny from the ICC but he has lost none of his exuberance in the interim. He is also an exuberant batsman, batting at No. 9 he clubbed his way to a maiden century at St Lucia in May 2004 against the West Indies.
Mashrafe bin Mortaza
Genuinely rapid, Mortaza was Bangladesh's brightest seam-bowling prospect when England toured in 2003. He bowled his heart out in the second Test at Chittagong, taking 4 for 60 in the first innings to keep England in check but he twisted his knee in the second innings and did not play another Test for more than a year. He is still only 21.