Najmul Hossain hints at Bangladesh’s four-bowler strategy

At the Wanderers in Johannesburg, Bangladesh will begin their opening Test against South Africa on November 15, 2026, with skipper Najmul Hossain signalling a tactical adjustment to the squad composition. Speaking on Saturday, November 14, Hossain indicated the team would deploy four bowlers rather than the traditional five, a decision shaped by recent squad changes and the need to accommodate multiple opening batsmen alongside Towhid Hridoy in the playing XI.

The shift reflects Bangladesh’s response to losing opener Shadman Islam to an ankle injury ahead of the tour. With Mohammad Naim and uncapped Mahfijul Islam included in the squad to partner Tanzid Hasan Tamim at the top of the order, the four-bowler approach creates space for both candidates. Hridoy, who scored an unbeaten 242 in the recent West Indies series at Sylhet, was drafted into the opening Test when Mushfiqur Rahim became unavailable, then retained in the second Test after Mominul Haque was rested following a blow to the head.

“I think I can say that there must be three pacers. There should also be a spinner because you will see that spinners are also contributing well, especially in Australia, the way they have bowled, especially Miraz. So I think we can go with this combination,” Hossain was quoted as saying by Cricbuzz.

Taijul Islam, who has endured recent struggles, is likely to be benched based on observations during practice sessions in South Africa. Mominul Haque has been honing his bowling skills at Hossain’s request and was observed bowling at length in the nets, suggesting he is expected to fill the fifth bowler’s role as a part-timer. Hridoy himself drew scrutiny in the nets for the volume of bowling he undertook during preparation.

Hossain deferred the final decision pending a wicket inspection on match morning. He explained the reasoning behind the squad’s preparation approach and the emphasis on developing batting depth through bowling contributions.

“Even then, since there is still one more day, I will come in the morning and see the wicket again and decide. I have been giving Mominul bhai the message for the last few years that he should bowl in the nets regularly and that is what he is doing. These two venues are a little different from the conditions we played in before and so I think we will go with a slightly different bowling attack.”

“Along with that, bowling is important because those of us who bat, especially in our team, you say Tests, ODIs, we don’t bowl much and so we as a team have started this thing that we batsmen should also bowl in the nets. So this is the plan and if it works in the match why not,” Hossain said.

Hossain defended the inclusion of Mahfijul Islam, emphasising that the uncapped opener’s selection was based on merit and first-class performance rather than simply balancing the batting order with a right-hander.

“It is not a fact that Robin (Mahfijul) just came into the team because he is a right-hander, it’s not like that. It was part of a plan and the way he has performed in first-class cricket I think he deserves to be in this team,” Hossain said.

Bangladesh faced a difficult challenge after losing their recent home series against the West Indies 1-0, which knocked them out of contention for the World Test Championship final. Despite the setback, Hossain expressed confidence in the team’s mental approach and ability to execute their plans in South African conditions.

“Mentally everyone is in a good position. Yes, it is true that our last two or three matches have not gone well, but without thinking too much about that, it is important to think about how we can do better in the future,” Hossain concluded.

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