Be it ODIs or Test cricket, Najmul Hossain Shanto’s batting template looks fairly simple: he starts with a drive. It can be an on-drive, off-drive or straight drive, especially when he goes on to score big. As opposition bowlers try to hit a tight line in the early stages of the innings, Shanto prefers to counterattack with the drive to score runs.
As a result, bowlers are often forced to pull their length back. That is when the left-hander responds with his pull shot around square, which has become his release option. In Test cricket, Shanto becomes particularly hard to stop if he ticks all the boxes of this batting template.
Following the same approach, he scored his ninth Test century on the opening day of the first of the two-match series against Pakistan on Friday. He reached his fifty in style with a pull shot off a short ball from Hasan Ali. He then celebrated his century with an eye-catching cover drive off Mohammad Abbas’s half-volley, which was his fourth century in the last eight innings. He also surpassed Mushfiqur Rahim to become the Bangladeshi captain with the most Test hundreds.
However, on the very next ball, he was struck plumb in front by an Abbas inswinger, a delivery he had otherwise negotiated very well since arriving at the crease with Bangladesh at 31 for 2. Shanto scored 100 off 130 balls, hitting 12 fours and 2 sixes. Both openers, Mahmudul Hasan Joy and Shadman Islam, failed to make significant contributions, while Mominul Haque fell in the nervous nineties as Bangladesh finished the day at 301 for 4.
Shanto’s commanding innings began with an off-drive to Abbas while walking down the pitch. That was followed by an on-drive and a classical cover drive off Shaheen Shah Afridi, offering an early indication of what was to come. A pull shot to reach his fifty off Hasan Ali was another sign of a Shanto masterclass in progress.
With those shots, Shanto effectively manipulated the lengths of the Pakistani pacers as well as the field placements. In the 41st over, when Shanto was on 66 not out, Shaheen was brought back into the attack. Pakistan captain Shan Masood, stationed at mid-off, then moved debutant Azan Awais to silly mid-off, while Noman Ali was placed at deep square leg.
Initially, Shanto’s scoring areas were well covered. However, Shaheen’s intent to unsettle him with the field setting did not work, as Shanto responded by pulling him twice through that region for consecutive boundaries. That requires considerable courage when scoring options are restricted, but Shanto accepted the challenge.
When left-arm spinner Noman was introduced, Shan again placed a fielder at silly mid-on to block his preferred single option. After a few dot balls in that area, Shanto stepped down the track and created room in the infield to find a boundary. Pakistan were then forced to reposition a fielder deeper on that side.
After a difficult morning session, Shanto and Mominul Haque added 170 runs for the third wicket, the highest partnership against Pakistan and the third-highest overall for Bangladesh. In that stand, the two left-handers took Test batting to another level.
Abbas, the right-arm pacer who operates around 120 to 125 kph, is difficult to face because of his ability to move the ball both ways. Against him, the two batters adopted different approaches. Shanto played him on the front foot, especially to counter the inswing, while Mominul opted for a backfoot technique, scoring most of his runs behind square. Shanto in particular used an excellent method, consistently coming down the pitch and taking guard outside the popping crease to manage Abbas’s movement.
Abbas, who had the last laugh against Shanto, later praised him at the end of the first day’s play. “We did everything, but we need to give credit to him as well. He played very good cricket. And when I was bowling, a few balls were missed and played. Yes, but we need to give credit to him, he played really good cricket,” Abbas said.
Regarding that approach, Mominul, who scored 91 off 200 balls, said in the press conference, “He came down the pitch, and that was part of his mindset or plan against Abbas. If you just stand and play him, it becomes difficult because the ball moves both ways. So the plan was to not let him settle, and that’s why he used that approach.”
Mominul, who has been closely observing Shanto’s consistency, also praised him highly. Reflecting on Shanto’s rise, he said, “He is in outstanding form. If you look at his last few innings, he scored centuries against Sri Lanka, Ireland, and New Zealand. Even under a lot of pressure, he managed to score those hundreds. Today as well, he scored a century in very difficult conditions. He is in the best form of his life.”
Shanto’s conversion rate in Test cricket has also come into focus. Out of 14 innings where he has crossed 50, he has converted 9 into centuries in 74 innings overall. Among batters who have scored at least 2000 Test runs, Shanto’s conversion rate to centuries is the third-best, at 64.28. The top two names are surprising: the late Australian legend Don Bradman leads with 69.05, while George Headley is second with 66.67.
Mominul believes this could become a trendsetter for the next generation, while also highlighting Shanto’s hunger for success. He said, “That’s good, because at some point you have to take someone to a certain level. By watching him, maybe others will improve in the future. He has the demand and hunger to perform for the team and to become the world’s best. When these intentions are there and the execution is done properly, things like this happen.”
