‘Why wouldn’t I want to play Test cricket?’ – Rubel Hossain denies reports
With the Bangladesh attack dominated by spinners in home conditions – in their last outing against the Windies, they did away with pacemen altogether – the fast bowlers have had a tough time getting into the side.
That has led to reports suggesting Hossain doesn't want to play Test cricket, but he has moved to dismiss those reports. “It's a total lie,” he is quoted as saying by The Times of India. "I don't know who spread it because why wouldn't I like to play Test cricket? Cricket gives me my bread and butter, and I sustain myself and my family by playing cricket.
"Whichever combination is the best to get Bangladesh to win Tests, I'm always happy with it" – Courtney Walsh backs the call to play an all-spin attack in the final #BANvWI Test.
— ICC (@ICC) December 4, 2018
READ 👇https://t.co/DKCnj9llKN pic.twitter.com/uj8vGJzMGr
“So there is no way I can cheat with it. I never said that I don't want to play Test cricket. It is not that I don't want to bowl long spells because if that was the case then I would not have played BCL (first-class) tournament.”
That said, Hossain does admit that it has been disappointing to not be able to get into the Test side – he last played in the Caribbean in July – but says he understands the reasons why it has been so.
“For quite some time, spinners are dictating terms in Tests for us while the pace bowlers are not able to do well,” he said. "The situation in the second Test was such that the wicket was prepared for the spinners. Naturally, it is disappointing when the spinners are doing well, and the pace bowlers cannot play.”
He does, however, foresee much more of a role in the upcoming one-day international series against the Windies. He is expected to be part of a three-man pace attack, also including Mashrafe Mortaza and Mustafizur Rahman, and believes “we have the ability to win the ODIs".
Hossain is now an experienced, death-over specialist, but says he still has work to do. "I am playing international cricket for the last nine years, so naturally I have gained some experience,” he said. “But still I have a lot to prepare to bowl in the death overs.
“It is such a situation that can either win or lose you a match. Naturally, you need to have more focus and I am working to be a better-equipped bowler in the death.”