‘We need to be smart’ – David Hemp asks more from Bangladesh’s batters ahead of Super Eight

David Hemp has decided against extending his contract as Pakistan women’s head coach to focus on his family. (Photo Source: Twitter)

Reaching the Super Eight stage of the ongoing T20 World Cup 2024, Bangladesh’s problems with the bat have been more than evident. The top-order of the side consistently underperforming is not a good sign, and had it not been for the bowlers, the side could have faced elimination from the World Cup quite early.

For their Super Eight group, Bangladesh have been placed with the likes of India, Afghanistan, and Australia, and to progress further in the tournament, Bangladesh will have to put in their best performances when they take on some of the best sides in world cricket.

Speaking of the issues with the bat, Bangladesh’s batting coach David Hemp took centre stage and stated that he wants to make sure that Bangladesh’s batters are not left 15-20 runs short, which has been the case in their recent games.

“We have seen that the wickets in this competition so far have not been conducive to 200 totals, and we need to be smart enough making those assessments of surface and conditions and later adjusting and adapting to those conditions, to give ourselves the best opportunity batting first,” Hemp told Cricbuzz.

“It will ensure that the bowlers have something to defend. And if you are chasing then obviously you got to chase what you got to chase and that’s a different conversation and you have to play according to the situation. But when we bat first, we need to make sure we are not 15 or 20 runs short because we have not been able to make the right assessment,” he added.

For their first game in the T20 World Cup Super Eight, Bangladesh will be taking on Australia. Both sides will face off at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in North Sound, Antigua, on Thursday, June 20, and the side will hope to massively improve if they are looking to topple the in-form Australia.