Tait aims to sharpen Bangladesh’s death bowling before T20 World Cup

Cricfrenzy: How did the opportunity to become Bangladesh's pace bowling coach come about?

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‘Teams don’t fear Bangladesh at ICC events — that must change’- says Bangladesh pace bowling coach Tait

5 hrs ago

Tait: It was pretty simple, just a normal negotiation process. They had other candidates as well, the usual stuff. Over the last few years, there were a couple of chances for me to join Bangladesh, but it didn’t work out for different reasons. Finally, it was good to get the chance this time. They were looking for someone, I was available, and it worked out well.

Cricfrenzy: What’s your plan with the current group of Bangladeshi pacers?

Tait: I think there are a couple of guys bowling at good pace there now, with the Bangladesh team, I think there's been a lot of talk about the young pace bowlers. There's a bit of talent, there are some older players. Mustafizur [Rahman], Taskin [Ahmed] are still there, so there are some experience mixed in with some youth. And I think any sporting team or any cricket team, certainly if you've got some youth and experience together, that's, always a great start. I think if you do the basics really well, just talking to them about getting the basics to a very, very high level. If you look at the good teams around the world, I spent a lot of time, obviously in Australia and spent a lot of time around the Australian team in my time. Those players, the best players they did the basics better than most people.

I think if I can get there, if we can get the bowling group to a stage where they're doing everything really well, at a high level, international level. Look you're always learning, but this is a finished product. This is a Bangladesh national team. The guys that are developing, they should be under the national team. And when they come into the national team, it's time to perform and I got those coaches there to help you improve and get better at your skills and all that sort of thing. But I think what they need to realize is this is the final stage. And it's time to bowl well and win some games for Bangladesh.

Cricfrenzy: Why do you think Bangladeshi bowlers struggle in ICC events?

Tait: What happened in the past is out of my control and doesn’t concern me. What matters is what’s going to happen now, starting in a few days against Pakistan. It’s time to get to know the bowlers and work to raise their level.

You are Bangladesh. You've got to get other teams worried about Bangladesh, because at the moment, I think you probably going to ICC events and other teams are not afraid of Bangladesh. They're not concerned of Bangladesh, but we need to change that now. And when you turn up to ICC events, you really need to compete with the top level.

Now to compete with India and to compete with Australia, compete with New Zealand and South Africa, England, these teams, you're going to have to do the really basic things as good as them. Otherwise, there's no other way to compete. So I don't think we should jump too far ahead and say we're gonna beat them straight away. But every single match, the Bangladesh plays needs to be extremely competitive.

Cricfrenzy: What is your goal over the next two years with this team? Improving Ranking?

Tait: I think the rankings, individual stuff that's up to the individual player. And if you get players up there in the rankings, you're doing something right as a team as well. I think. Number one, Bangladesh gotta win games of cricket. Now the bowling is going to obviously contribute a lot towards that. So I've got to work well with the bowlers and I've got to enjoy my coaching as well. But the end of the day, it is not really about me. What I will say is I'm really relaxed, but at the same time on the field, I expect really high standards. I think that's what I will bring. I'll bring an approach and a mindset of world class standard. That's where they need to be.

Cricfrenzy: You’ve worked with various Asian teams and franchises. Do you enjoy working with subcontinental pacers?

Tait: I've found myself working a lot in the subcontinent, I guess. I actually have an Indian wife. I spent a lot of time in India in the past. I said I work with Pakistan team for 12 months. I've worked in the Lanka league. I've done a little bit in England as well and some in Australia, but I actually really enjoy the subcontinent. I think every match you what it's like, your Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, India, every single match feels like it's extremely important for the not only the players, but the public, the media. There's a lot of pressure, a lot of scrutiny. And I think there's no series in the subcontinent that's forgotten about, or that's not important. So I like the idea that with the subcontinent teams, every single match is very, very big. And that's the world stage. That's the way that's where you want to compete with the best.

Cricfrenzy: What’s the biggest challenge for fast bowlers in the subcontinent compared to places like Australia or England?

Tait: There's different conditions. I think it's a different. Let's be honest, the subcontinent is a difficult place to go fast. It's not easy. You'd much rather be in Australia or South Africa or England or New Zealand. No doubt. There's a challenge to start off with. There's a challenge right away. So I'm still learning as well about the conditions in the subcontinent. And I'm not here just to bring my Australian thoughts. I'm here to add value to a team that is based on the subcontinent and try and mix it all in together. I think the training is really important. I think the training is really important. The amount of rest the players are getting, because you are going to be on wickets that are not fantastic for fast bowling.

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And I think we need to keep our players fresh and to a level where they're rested and ready to give 100 % every match, because it can be really tiring. It's very hot in the subcontinent in Bangladesh is very hot. It's dry. There's the wickets are often very flat, or the wickets are turning wickets. So we don't want tight fast bowlers all the time. We want fresh fast bowlers and being able to get their pace, keep their pace up and keep their standards really high. So it's a team, support staff, physio, therapist, strength and conditioning trainers, fast bowling coach. It's a team effort to get these bowlers a to a world class level.

Cricfrenzy: Your take on Bangladesh’s performance in the recent UAE series?

Tait: I watched a little bit because I was here with Karachi Kings, I watched a little bit. Consistency is a huge thing. I know. It's a cliche, but consistency and just raising the standards of where you're bowling. One thing I will tell you is that I want to work really hard about the death bowling. I think the amount of T20 cricket we're playing now and there's obviously Asia cups coming. There's at T20 world cup early next year. Death bowling is vitally important. So by the time, the T20 world cup comes around next year, I hope you can see that there's a big improvement in the death bowling of the Bangladesh fast bowlers.

Cricfrenzy: Can the current crop of pacers generate more pace under your guidance?

Tait: Let's see, it depends. It actually depends what each individual wants out of their bowling. Some guys are at a high pace level, and they're not looking to maybe add more pace or anything like that. Some guys might be. So once I joined the squad, I'll have the conversations with the bowlers. And I know how to help guys keep pace at a high level. That's for sure. But every individual is very different and coaches can always come in and say I want to do this and I want to do that, but really you've got to work with the team and I got to work with Phil Simmons, head coach. So you got to work all that out and work out what's best for these guys and the environment that the team is in. So, but like I said, there's no excuses and there will be no hiding behind bad results. Nothing like that. So, like I said, death bowling is going to be a high priority, first up and some high standards. And I think you want to see fast bowlers, you don't want to see them dropping their pace too much. You want to see him keeping a decent level. So hopefully I can work with them to try and keep those standards high.

Cricfrenzy: Have you had any early conversations with Bangladesh's key pacers?

Tait: I haven’t talked much with Mustafizur but have a good relationship with Taskin. I recently chatted with Nahid Rana, I just spoke to him. We just had a bit of a chat to be honest. I said it looks like I'm coming to join your team and it's going to be nice to work with you. Don't worry. I'm not a mean person, I'm a nice Coach. And we had a bit of a joke to be honest, nothing too serious.

That's the other thing I think that's really important. And every Coach will try and do this is just to create a nice atmosphere for the fast bowlers. If I'm in their corner. If I'm on their side, I'm sure that's going to help them bowl a lot better. And but you can't ask for miracles like I said, you've got to work out what's best for this group of fast bowlers.

Cricfrenzy: What’s your plan with fringe pacers who aren’t in the playing XI?

Tait: The fringe players need to be ready for international cricket if injuries or rest call for replacements. I worked similarly with Pakistan—long tours require working with players outside the playing XI. Good coaching involves time with those guys too.

Cricfrenzy: Did you get to watch Mustafizur’s performance in this year’s IPL?

Tait: No, I was in Pakistan and with Karachi Kings, so I missed it. But I know he’s bowling well. He’s experienced; younger bowlers might need more work. I’m interested in working with him, learning from him and sharing knowledge.

Cricfrenzy: Do Bangladeshi pacers have what it takes to succeed in top leagues like IPL, PSL, and CPL?