Sylhet:Bangladesh head coach Phil Simmons praised Towhid Hridoy for his maturity and exceptional game awareness following his remarkable double century in the second and final cricket Test against West Indies at Sylhet International Cricket Stadium.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Hridoy scored an unbeaten 242 off 359 balls, which included 22 fours and 11 sixes. His innings helped Bangladesh recover from a precarious position of 184-6 to post a total of 386 in their first innings, securing a 30-run lead. Simmons described the innings as outstanding and commended Hridoy for his ability to find boundaries and hit sixes even as fatigue set in.
Simmons highlighted Hridoy's performance as particularly significant, given his struggles in the first Test in Dhaka. Despite some rash shots in that match, Simmons noted that Hridoy was quickly maturing as a Test batter and should not be judged harshly for his early mistakes.
The coach also mentioned that he did not provide Hridoy with specific instructions during the innings, emphasizing that batters must take responsibility once on the field. Furthermore, Simmons praised the support provided by Taijul Islam and Taskin Ahmed, who contributed valuable partnerships with Hridoy.
Additionally, Simmons revealed that opener Shadman Islam was injured and had to leave the ground in a wheelchair but hoped for his quick recovery. Simmons also expressed confidence in his three spinners, anticipating a stronger impact in the second innings and dismissing concerns about the lack of a pacer in the first innings.