An unconventional shot that dropped jaws

A shot that dropped jaws - that is the mood prevailing in Bangladesh's cricketing landscape after Shamim Hossain's13-ball 31 helped the hosts pull off their highest successful chase in T20Is, defeating New Zealand by six wickets in the opening game of the three-match series in Chattogram.

Though both teams have since returned to Dhaka for the series decider, after the second T20I was abandoned due to rain, that one shot remains the biggest talking point. Facing Nathan Smith, Shamim played an audacious stroke, pulling a slower-ball bouncer over the wicketkeeper's head.

It was unconventional. The delivery, by design, could have gone straight over the bowler's head, but Shamim's execution left everyone stunned. Those in the press box instinctively tracked the ball towards mid-off and long-off, only to realise it had sailed over the wicketkeeper and into the boundary.

"Honestly, I don't know the name of the shot," Shamim said when his attention was drawn regarding the shot ahead of the series concluding game at Mirpur on Friday.

"But I always practice this (shot) in the nets. Because I know when I go out to bat, I like playing improvised shots. So, I practice these quite a lot," he said.

"The thought process is that when I go out to bat, the fielding setup is a bit different and that acts as a benefit (attempting those improvisation)," he said.

Shamim understands the volatile and demanding nature of his role. Batting in the lower middle-order in T20 cricket is a tricky prospect, one that demands a fearless approach backed by instinct.

However, he did not always find support for his improvisation. Former national head coach Chandika Hathurusingha, during his second stint, was among those who labelled it "non-cricketing".

"Actually, whenever I go to bat, I always carry a positive mindset - that if a ball is there to be hit, I will hit it. If I can play a bit briskly, it's very good for my team," he said, adding that the team management backs his aggressive intent.

"Of course (they back me to play aggressively). It's not just the dressing room it's also in my mind that I will play this way, that I will play a bit fast, yes. In T20s, I always think like this (irrespective of whether I get out or not)," he said.

"I practice every shot in the net, especially the improvising shots, I like to play them, and the position in which I bat, these shots are required, these side shots are important for me, I always practice them," he said.

"The position in which I bat, I have to take risks, in the back of my mind I don't think too much, I always try to think positive. Since I practice these shots, I trust my skills," he said.

The discussion around that stroke is not limited to Bangladesh. New Zealand, too, are trying to find ways to counter a batter like Shamim.

"He( Shamim) played a magnificent knock at the back end, obviously putting us as death bowlers under pressure. Again, that's probably an area we've got to look at and be better tomorrow," Dean Foxcroft said.

Foxcroft described Shamim's improvisation as unfamiliar territory for many in the New Zealand setup, several of whom had not faced him before. "Obviously that shot was incredible. A lot of guys haven't played against him," he said, adding that they are studying him more closely ahead of the Mirpur clash.

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