It’s not that it is unplayable (new Kookaburra balls) but we need to be a bit more cautious – BCB Chief Selector

The Bangladesh batters have had a tough time facing the new batch of Kookaburra balls as they prepare to face India in the three-match ODI series, beginning on December 4 while it was observed that batters who are likely to represent the national team struggled to play with it.

The Bangladesh batters have had a tough time facing the new batch of Kookaburra balls as they prepare to face India in the three-match ODI series, beginning on December 4.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board had presented the new Kookaburra balls in the recently-concluded Bangladesh Cricket League one-day version to provide the cricketers with a chance to stretch out and acclimated with the ball ahead of the home series against India. 

However, it was observed that batters who are likely to represent the national team struggled to play with it.

Minhajul Abedin, Bangladesh’s chief selector admitted to Cricbuzz that the batters would need to be a bit more cautious initially.

“It’s not that it is unplayable (new Kookaburra balls) but we need to be a bit more cautious initially because you have to get adjusted to its bounce, which seems to be a bit more than what it was with the older Kookaburra balls,”

said Minhajul.

Barring Mohammad Naim, who hit three half-centuries, most of the other mainstays struggled in the tournament. Naim echoed Minhajul’s sentiments and added that he just wanted to stay at the wicket and decided to curb his aggressive instincts.

“This ball is certainly different from the previous one and it bounces a bit more so you have to take some time. I think we lost three to four early wickets in a couple of matches and at that point, I decided to stay and do what was required,”

Naim, who scored 210 runs in four innings at an average of 52.50 in BCL told Cricbuzz.

“The previous Kookaburra ball had plain seam while this one (new Kookaburra) is a bit straighter. Apart from that, this ball takes a bit more time to get old. So obviously you have to take your time in the middle to get settled before going for your shots. It’s not like you can go and whack the ball from the start because the behavior of the ball is a bit different,”

he said.

The full-strength India side, with Rohit Sharma as captain and Rahul Dravid as a coach, will show up in Bangladesh on December 1 to play three ODIs along with two Tests, part of the World Test Championship, from December 14-18 and December 22-26.

The opening two ODIs will be played at Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka respectively on June 4 and 7, while the last game of the one-day series will be played at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram on November 10. 

The opening Test will be played at Chattogram on the same venue while India will play their series-concluding the second Test at SBNS in Dhaka.