Simmons backs Bijoy to bounce back stronger
Anamul Haque Bijoy during practice, Cricfrenzy
Bangladesh Head coach Phil Simmons has expressed full confidence in opener Anamul Haque Bijoy, saying that he knows his disciple well enough to trust in his ability to return stronger, despite a tough outing in the first Test against Sri Lanka.
Speaking at the pre-match press conference ahead of the second Test in Colombo, Simmons stood firmly behind Bijoy. The 62-year-old coach said:
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"Anamul Haque has only just returned to Test cricket. He batted well against Zimbabwe. He’s played one Test and had two innings here. I’m confident he’ll come back stronger."
While Simmons did not confirm whether Bijoy would feature in the playing XI for the second Test, his remarks offer hope for the right-handed opener. Should he get another opportunity, Bijoy will surely be eager to repay his coach’s faith.
Bijoy struggled in the Galle Test, scoring 0 and 4 in the two innings.
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Meanwhile, Simmons assured that the rest of the team, including Nazmul Hossain Shanto and Mushfiqur Rahim, are heading into the Colombo Test with a renewed sense of belief.
Reflecting on the first Test, Simmons said; “The way we played in Galle has boosted our confidence. That’s how it works — if you start well, the confidence carries over into the next match."
