Hasan Mahmud returned to Kent after a memorable tour of Australia and picked up almost exactly where he had left off. The Bangladesh pacer took seven wickets against Worcestershire in the County Championship. He claimed 4/68 in the first innings before adding 3/51 in the second.
The numbers were impressive. The manner of the wickets spoke volumes about his strength.
All seven came either bowled or LBW. Three batters lost their stumps and four were trapped in front. Hasan kept bringing the ball back into the right handers, attacking the off stump area and making the stumps a constant part of the game.
Hasan’s six innings for Kent have produced figures of 3/32, 6/69, 2/77, 1/51, 4/68 and 3/51. That is 19 wickets from three matches at an average of 18.32.
His first Kent stint came before Bangladesh’s tour of Australia. Hasan took 12 wickets from two matches, including a first class career best 6 for 69 against Lancashire.
Then came the big Australia Test series. Hasan took 6 for 55 in the first innings of the Darwin Test and finished with 9 for 111 in the match. Bangladesh won by nine wickets to claim their first Test victory in Australia, with Hasan taking the POM award.
Hasan can swing the ball both ways. The delivery coming into the right hander looked particularly dangerous because of the areas he attacks.
He can pitch around off stump with an ever-so-smooth action and bring the ball sharply back. The batter has little room for error. Hasan also shapes the ball away. A couple of deliveries moving away can make a batter more conscious of his outside edge.
His success, however, is not based on extravagant movement alone. Much of it comes from repeating his action, maintaining his seam position and hitting the right areas. That is something former Bangladesh fast bowler Hasibul Hossain Shanto has noticed for a long time.
“I have been watching Hasan Mahmud since the Under 15s or Under 16s. He has improved day by day and come a long way to where he is now,” Hasibul told TIMES of Bangladesh.
“He bowls knowing his limitations, and that is why he is playing so well in the County Championship. He does not do anything fancy. He keeps his basics right.”
County cricket has offered Hasan an environment where those basics are constantly tested.
Batters are accustomed to facing seam and swing. Conditions can change quickly. A pacer has to maintain his line and length over repeated spells and find different ways to create chances.
Hasibul believes performing regularly in that environment can make Hasan a better bowler.
“If a bowler performs regularly in county cricket, he becomes better automatically. You cannot do well there without keeping your basics right,” he said. “You saw this ability from Hasan in Australia.”
Bowling coach Tareq Aziz Khan has seen another side of Hasan’s development.
The former Bangladesh fast bowler coached him during the BCB’s Bangla Tigers camp. He believes Hasan’s smooth run up and technical adjustments have played an important role in developing his accuracy.
“I have been his coach in the Bangla Tigers camp. I think he has been in great rhythm for the last two or three years. His performances outside the subcontinent are worth mentioning,” Tareq told TIMES.
“The best thing about him is that he has a really smooth run up. He has made the technical adjustments needed to build accuracy. He takes care of himself, and he is enjoying his game.”
For a Bangladesh fast bowler, the ability to perform outside the subcontinent is significant. But despite everything Hasan is already producing, Tareq believes Bangladesh have yet to see his full potential.
“I personally feel that Hasan has been able to give 70 percent so far. I think he still has 30 percent more to give,” he said.
“I think he is going to be one of the most valuable gems in Bangladesh cricket. From the five or six years I have seen him, I really think he has the capability to give much more to Bangladesh cricket.”
At 26, Hasan has time on his side. More importantly, he is gaining experience in places that challenge a fast bowler in different ways. Tareq believes those experiences will matter.
“The overseas matches like in Kent and Bangladesh’s Test matches will give him confidence,” he said. “In the future, you can expect him to do even better.”
