Najmul Hossain Shanto bets on early runs in Galle: can Bangladesh break the spin curse?

Bangladesh batsman Najmul Hossain Shanto is focusing on scoring early runs in Galle to counter the challenging spin conditions that have historically troubled his team.

"Playing spin may be challenging, but there's also a lot of runs in the first two or three days in Galle. We want to take that opportunity," Shanto said, highlighting the strategy to exploit the initial batting-friendly conditions.

Data from the past five years shows a sharp decline in batting averages as the Test match progresses in Galle, dropping from 45.64 on day one to just 20.65 by day five. This trend underscores the dominance of spin bowlers, who have taken over 100 wickets each on the third and fourth days.

Bangladesh's recent form has been underwhelming, with only two wins in ten completed matches this year. Their batting woes are often linked to the absence of key players like Tamim Iqbal and Shakib Al Hasan, making Shanto's approach crucial.

By aiming to build a strong foundation early, Bangladesh hopes to break the so-called "spin curse" in Galle and improve their performance on spin-friendly pitches.

This tactical shift could be pivotal in reversing their fortunes and challenging the traditionally dominant spin attacks in Sri Lanka.

Bangladesh's Najmul Hossain Shanto aims to capitalize on early batting opportunities in Galle, where spin bowling dominates later days. With batting averages dropping from 45.64 on day one to 20.65 by day five, Bangladesh hopes to overcome their spin struggles and improve their recent poor record.