Mashrafe Mortaza
Encyclopedia
Mashrafe Bin Mortaza (born 5 October 1983 in Narail District
, Jessore) is a Bangladeshi cricket
er. He broke into the national side in late 2001 against Zimbabwe and represented Bangladesh before having played a single first-class
match. Mortaza captained his country in one Test and seven One Day Internationals (ODIs) between 2009 and 2010, however he has been plagued by injury and Shakib Al Hasan
was appointed captain in Mortaza's absence.
Mortaza is considered one of the fastest bowlers produced by Bangladesh, usually bowling
in the mid-80s mph (130s km/h), and regularly opens the bowling. He is a useful lower-middle order
batsman, with a first-class century
and three Test
half centuries to his name. Mortaza's career to-date has been hampered by injuries.
He was bought by Kolkata Knight Riders
for the 2009 Indian Premier League
; although KKR paid US$600,000 for Mortaza, he played just one match for them. Due to his international commitments, Mortaza has infrequently played for Khulna Division
, in Bangladesh's domestic cricket competitions. While he has represented Bangladesh 36 times in Tests
and in 117 ODIs between 2001 and 2010 he has played only 11 first-class
and 9 list A matches for Khulna Division in the same period.
in south-west Bangladesh. Although he enjoyed playing sports such as football and badminton
from a young age—sometimes going swimming in the nearby River Chitra instead of doing school work—Mortaza was more interested in cricket as a youth, especially batting. Despite this, his bowling is now his main attribute and his pace has gained him the nickname of the "Narail Express".
Mortaza has been described as an open and animated character who enjoys motorcycling. He used to travel from a local bridge onto the tops of passing goods barges. He is very popular in his home town, leading to him being dubbed their "Prince of Hearts". At Govt. Victoria College, Narail, Mortaza met Sumona Haque Shumi, whom he married in 2006.
to have emerged from Bangladesh. The pace and aggression Mortaza displayed as an under-19 player impressed Andy Roberts, the former West Indian fast bowler, who was acting as a temporary bowling coach for Bangladesh. Under Roberts' recommendation, Mortaza was drafted into the Bangladesh A
team.
After one match for Bangladesh A (to date his only Bangladesh A match), Mortaza made his Test
debut on 8 November 2001 against Zimbabwe in the Bangabandhu National Stadium
in Dhaka
. Khaled Mahmud
also debuted in the match, which was curtailed by rain and ended in a draw. Mortaza opened the bowling with Mohammad Manjural Islam and took 4 wicket
s for 106 runs
(also written as 4/106) as Zimbabwe did not bat a second time. His first, also known as "maiden", Test wicket was that of Grant Flower
. Unusually the match was also Mortaza's maiden first-class
match; he was the 31st person to have achieved this, and the third since 1899. Mortaza also made his first appearance for Bangladesh's one day team on 23 November 2001 along with fellow debutants Fahim Muntasir
and Tushar Imran
. Opening the bowling with Mohammad Sharif
, Mortaza finished with figures
of 2/26 from 8.2 overs
as Zimbabwe won the match by five wickets.
of 31.16.
Mortaza did not return to international cricket until the 2003 World Cup
in South Africa during 2003. Bangladesh failed to progress past the round-robin stage, and Mortaza played in two matches collecting two wickets at an average of 38.00.
In October and November 2003, England toured Bangladesh for two-Tests and three ODIs. In the second Test, Mortaza took what at the time was his best Test figures of 4/60 before succumbing to injury, collapsing with a twisted knee after delivering the ball
. Despite challenging England in the series, Bangladesh lost 2-0, Mortaza finished the series with 8 wickets at an average of 21.25. As a result, he was again out of international cricket; this time for over a year. Injuries in the first three years of his international career saw Mortaza only play 12 Tests and not more than four in a row.
. He bowled consistently in the series and nearly dismissed Sachin Tendulkar
and Sourav Ganguly
, but catches
were dropped. Mortaza finished the series with five wickets at an average of 37.00, although Bangladesh lost 2-0. In the following ODI series, Mortaza played an instrumental role in Bangladesh's 16 run defeat of India in the second ODI on 26 December 2004. He was awarded the man of the match for his all-round performance—taking two wickets, two catches and scoring 31 not out
. The match was Bangladesh's 100th ODI and Mortaza's first one day cricket in 15 months. Bangladesh went on to lose the series 2-1.
In January 2005 Zimbabwe toured Bangladesh, playing two Tests and five ODIs. Bangladesh won the Test series one Test to nil, their first series victory in Test cricket. In addition, Bangladesh's victory in the first Test at the MA Aziz Stadium
was their first Test win. In the final innings of the first match, Mortaza took the ninth wicket and with victory imminent he struggled to bowl the next ball and had to wipe away tears and regain his composure before starting his run up. Despite a sore back in the second Test, Mortaza continued to bowl. In the two Tests, Mortaza scored 93 runs at an average of 31.00 and took nine wickets at an average of 24.88. In a close ODI series, Bangladesh won 3-2 after being 2-0 down, Mortaza played in four matches and took four wickets at an average of 40.00.
Playing for Khulna Division against Sylhet Division
in March 2005, Mortaza scored his maiden first-class century. Batting at number four
in his team's second innings, Mortaza scored 132 not out from 140 balls; the innings far surpassing his previous best first-class score of 70, and was named man of the match.
Mortaza enhanced his reputation on Bangladesh's inaugural tour of England
, and was the team's leading bowler, although his team lost the two-match Test series 2-0. He was by far the most economical of the Bangladeshi bowlers, conceding on average nearly half a run less per over than the next best bowler. Mortaza finished the series with four wickets at 49.50 and was the team's leading wicket taker. He consistently troubled the English batsmen, repeatedly beating the bat. A ODI tri-series followed in which Bangladesh recorded their maiden win against Australia. Mortaza's bowling was important in Bangladesh's huge upset against Australia in Cardiff, removing Adam Gilchrist
for a duck and conceding 33 runs from 10 overs as Bangladesh won by five wickets. At the end of the tour, Mortaza was described as "Bangladesh's solitary cutting edge", underlining how important his bowling is to the team.
Mortaza was selected as a reserve player for the Asian squad in the inaugural Afro-Asia Cup
. He was later drafted into the full squad as a replacement for the unavailable Rana Naved-ul-Hasan
. With batsman Mohammad Ashraful
, he was one of two Bangladeshi players in the 15-man squad. Sultan Rana
, the Asia team manager, described Mortaza as "a very promising prospect, a terrific asset to the Bangladesh team". Mortaza did not play in any of the three ODIs.
Australia visited Bangladesh in April 2006
and Mortaza played the whole series. Despite coming close to winning the first Test, Bangladesh ultimately lost both Tests in the series. In the final innings of the first Test, Mortaza dropped a difficult catch off Australian captain Ricky Ponting
who went on to see his side to victory with 118 not out. Habibul Bashar
, the Bangladesh captain, said of the dropped catch, "If he had taken it we could have seen a different situation, but I must say he tried hard and you all know that he is a whole-hearted cricketer". Bangladesh lost the following three-match ODI series 3-0.
In July and August 2006, Bangladesh toured Zimbabwe for a five-match ODI series. In the 3rd ODI, Mortaza was hit for six
off the final ball of the match by Brendan Taylor
, giving the Zimbabweans victory. With Zimbabwe already winning the series 3-1, Mortaza was dropped for the final match, which Bangladesh went on to win. In the four matches he played in, Mortaza took five wickets at an average of 29.20. Following their defeat by Zimbabwe, Bangladesh faced Kenya in three ODIs, winning them all. Mortaza was instrumental in the second victory, coming in with the score on 120/7 chasing 185 to win. He guided his team home with an 43 not out, farming the strike to protect the Bangladesh tail. Mortaza took career best bowling figures of 6/26 from his 10 overs in the final ODI, ensuring Bangladesh were chasing a low target. His figures are also the best in ODIs by any Bangladesh cricketer. In the calendar year of 2006 Mortaza was the world's highest wicket taker in ODIs, collecting 49 wickets. The haul was the most ever in a calendar year by a Bangladeshi, and 17th most for anyone.
In a freak accident shortly before the 2006 ICC Champions Trophy
, Mortaza sprained his ankle on the stairs at home. As a result, he was ruled out of the warm up matches before the tournament which was held on October. Mortaza recovered in time to play in all three of Bangladesh's matches, taking two wickets at 50.50, as Bangladesh failed to progress beyond the first round.
. Bangladesh won the four match series 3-1, and Mortaza finished as Bangladesh's leading wicket-taker with 8 wickets at 16.50. When Bangladesh beat New Zealand in a warm-up match before the World Cup, Mortaza produced what was described as a "fine all-round display". He took four wickets and scored an unbeaten 30 off 16 balls to ensure victory by two wickets. He was also the man of the match in Bangladesh's victory over India during the group stage of the 2007 World Cup, taking 4/38; at the time they were the best figures by a Bangladesh bowler at a World Cup. Bangladesh progressed to the second round of the tournament, and Mortaza played in all nine of the team's matches, taking nine wickets at an average of 35.88.
Shortly after the World Cup, India toured Bangladesh
for two Test matches and three ODIs. Bangladesh lost the Test series 1-0, but Mortaza finished as both the team's leading run-scorer and wicket-taker with 151 runs at 50.33 with two fifties—including his maiden Test half-century—and 6 wickets at 38.33. Bangladesh lost the ODI series 2-0. After Habibul Bashar
stepped down from Bangladesh's one day captaincy, Mohammad Ashraful
was appointed the team captain in all forms of cricket on 2 June 2007. On the same day, it was announced that Mortaza was the new vice-captain. When Bangladesh toured Sri Lanka in June and July 2007
, Mortaza took 3 wickets at 91.33 in three Test matches as Bangladesh lost the series 3-0. His poor performance led to suggestions that Mortaza was uninterested in the series; he denied this and put performance down to a lack of confidence and fatigue from an intensive international schedule over the previous two years. He featured in one match of the three-match ODI series; taking two wickets at 15.50 and Bangladesh again lost 3-0.
Mortaza was selected for the Asia squad to play in the 2007 Afro-Asia Cup
, a three-match ODI series, replacing Pakistan fast-bowler Shoaib Akhtar
. Along with spin bowler Mohammad Rafique
, Mortaza was one of two Bangladesh players in the squad. Mortaza played in two of the three matches, taking one wicket at an average of 108 runs as Asia won the series 3-0. At the inaugural World Twenty20, held in South Africa in September 2007, Mortaza took two wickets at 80.00 and scored 35 runs at 8.75 in five matches as Bangladesh progressed to the second stage of the tournament. In a match against Australia in the tournament, Mortaza became one of three victims of the first T20I hat-trick. Brett Lee
claimed Shakib Al Hasan's wicket, followed by Mortaza's and then that of Alok Kapali
to help Australia to a 9-wicket win.
When Bangladesh toured New Zealand
in December 2007 and January 2008, the team lost the Test series 2-0 and the ODI series 3-0. Mortaza played in both of the Tests, taking seven wickets at 26.85 and finished as the team's leading wicket-taker. However he was less successful in the ODI series, taking one wicket for 123 runs in three matches. In Bangladesh's two Tests against South Africa in February and March 2008
, Mortaza failed to take a single wicket in either match and his team lost 2-0. As a result of his dip in form, Mortaza was dropped for the first match of the three-match ODI series that followed. After Bangladesh lost the opening match of the series, Mortaza returned for the final two ODIs and took one wicket for 45 runs; Bangladesh went on to lose the series 3-0. Ireland toured Bangladesh in March 2008
; during the tour Mortaza and two other Bangladesh players faced disciplinary action for missing a practice session. Bangladesh were undefeated in the three-match ODI series, with Mortaza collecting four wickets at 22.75 and a man of the match award.
In August and September 2008, Bangladesh toured Australia
for three ODIs. Before the ODIs started, Mortaza was struggling with his persistent knee injury. Bangladesh lost all three matches, and although not missing a match, Mortaza failed to take a wicket. After the series, doctors examined the knee and identified a collection of fluid in Mortaza's left knee. He was told that he can continue bowling for up to a year, but then he will require minor surgery to drain the fluid. The operation would keep him from playing cricket for six to eight weeks. In September 2008, Mortaza was approached by the Indian Cricket League
to join the newly formed Dhaka Warriors
. The league was not legitimate according to the ICC, whose lead was followed by the Bangladesh Cricket Board
(BCB), and the 13 players who chose to join were given 10-year bans by the BCB. Mortaza turned down the offer, asserting that his main priority was to play for Bangladesh.
When New Zealand toured Bangladesh in October 2008, Mortaza was part of Bangladesh's maiden ODI victory against New Zealand. He took 4/44 as his team won by seven wickets, but the team went on to lose the series 2-1. He finished as the series leading wicket-taker. In the two-match Test series which followed, Mortaza took three wickets at an average of 28.33 and scored 92 runs at an average of 30.66 as Bangladesh lost the series 1-0.
When Bangladesh toured South Africa in November 2008, Bangladesh lost the two-match and three-match Test and ODI series 2-0 and 3-0 respectively. Mortaza was forced to miss out on Bangladesh's warm up match due to a sore back, but played in all the Tests and ODIs, taking two expensive wickets in each series.
On 6 February 2009, an auction was held in which teams in the Indian Premier League
made bids for players for the 2009 Indian Premier League
, the second season of the competition. Mortaza's starting price was US$50,000; the Kolkata Knight Riders
and the Kings XI Punjab
were involved in a bidding war over Mortaza, driving up his price. The winning bid was US$600,000 by the Kolata Knight Riders. Preity Zinta
, a stake holder in the Kings XI Punjab team, said "Mortaza is a great player, an all-rounder and we wanted him". Buying Mortaza's was part of the Kolkata Knight Riders' attempt to appeal to a wider audience, including Bangladeshis. Mortaza played just one match for the Kolkata Knight Riders; in the most expensive spell of the 2009 IPL, he bowled the final over of the match, conceding 21 runs to allow the Deccan Chargers
to secure victory.
In early 2009, Ashraful's position as captain came under scrutiny and the BCB considered possible replacements. Mortaza, wicket-keeper
Mushfiqur Rahim
, and all-rounder
Shakib Al Hasan
were identified as potential successors, but the board decided to let Ashraful remain as captain. Mortaza was also reconfirmed as vice-captain. Following Bangladesh's early exit from the 2009 ICC World Twenty20
, as a result of their defeat by Ireland, Mohammad Ashfraful's leadership was criticised, but stated that he wished to remain captain. In June 2009, the BCB relieved Ashraful of the captaincy so that he could focus on his batting and Mortaza was appointed captain for the tours of the West Indies and Zimbabwe. Shakib Al Hasan replaced Mortaza as vice-captain.
In July 2009, Bangladesh toured the West Indies
. Mortaza's captaincy was off to a winning start in his first Test in charge when Bangladesh beat the West Indies. However, he injured his knee and was unable to take to the field on the final day, leaving Shakib Al Hasan to assume the captaincy and lead the team to a historic win; it was their first against the West Indies, their first overseas Test victory, and only their second Test win. This was achieved against a very inexperienced West Indies side as a result of a dispute between the West Indies Cricket Board
and the West Indies Players' Association over pay. The first XI had made themselves unavailable for selection and a new squad had to be chosen. Seven West Indies players made their Test debut in the match and the side was captained by Floyd Reifer
who had played the last of his four Tests ten years earlier.
Mortaza's injury prevented him from taking part in the remainder of the tour and his replacement, Shakib Al Hasan, led Bangladesh to a 2–0 and 3–0 victories in the Test and ODI series respectively. The West Indies' dispute remained unsolved for the rest of Bangladesh's tour and the West Indies continued to field an inexperienced side. The knee injury also ruled Mortaza out of playing on the tour of Zimbabwe in August. In early August, Mortaza travelled to Australia to undergo arthroscopic surgery
on both knees; the expected recovery time from the operation was six weeks. Although Mortaza was reinstated as Bangladesh's captain for the team's home ODI series against Zimbabwe in October 2009, he did not play in the series. His injury persisted, and he did not play competitive cricket from his injury in July 2009 until February 2010.
. Following the match, he commented that he had no interest in regaining the captaincy as in his opinion Shakib Al Hasan had done a good job. He also said that if his injury problems persisted he would contemplate retiring from Test cricket to focus on ODIs and T20s, similar to fellow fast bowlers Shane Bond
, Shaun Tait
, Andrew Flintoff
, and Brett Lee
. Mortaza declined to play in the Test series to avoid aggrivating his knee, but played only the first out of the three ODIs against England before withdrawing from Bangladesh's squad as he was about to be dropped. Bangladesh lost the one match Mortaza played in, and the captain criticised his bowling. Shakib Al Hasan said "The way Mashrafe bowled before his injury, that Mashrafe we might have missed tonight. But the way he bowled in the last match and the practice match, not really. He needs some time to get back to full confidence and rhythm. He needs to play some games and get match-fit again."
Mortaza continued to struggle for form in the 2010 Asia Cup
, held in June, taking just two wickets in three matches at an average of 77.00. The coach, Jamie Siddons
, commented that "He's going to have to improve a lot on his current form. Unfortunately there's no ready replacement for Mashrafe at the moment, we're hoping his experience will pull him through. We'll keep looking for others and if Mash can't stand up we'll have to replace him." Siddons also noted that since his comeback in 2010, Mortaza's bowling has not been as fast as it used to be. In the one-day leg of the return tour in England
in July 2010, Mortaza regain the captaincy of the ODI side. He took over from Shakib Al Hasan who had stepped down after a dip in form. In the second ODI Bangladesh ended their 24-match losing streak; Mortaza led his country to their first victory over England in any form of cricket. However, Bangladesh were unable to seal a series victory and lost 2–1. Mortaza finished as joint-lead wicket-taker for the series with five wickets, equal with England's Ajmal Shahzad
. Later the same month, Bangladesh played two ODIs against Ireland, and one against the Netherlands; the team managed only one victory against Ireland. Analysing Bangladesh's performance on the tour, Mortaza noted his concern about the effectiveness of the team's bowling.
In the opening game of Bangladesh's five-match ODI series against New Zealand in October 2010
, Mortaza suffered an ankle injury. As a result, he was unable to play again in the series and Shakib Al Hasan took over. Bangladesh won 4–0, a historic win as Bangladesh had never before won a series against a full-strength Test nation. At the start of November, the BCB announced 16 central contracts. Mortaza was one of six players in the top level. He returned to the Bangladesh squad for Zimbabwe's tour of the country in December 2010, but Shakib Al Hasan retained the captaincy. By his own admission, Mortaza struggled for form early in the series but believed that he would improve with match practice. After losing the opening match of the series, Bangladesh won the next three encounters and beat Zimbabwe 3–1; Mortaza finished with three wickets from four matches at an average of 32.66. At the end of the series Shakib praised the performance of his fast bowlers in the closing matches. While batting for Abahani in a Dhaka Premier Division League match in December, Mortaza suffered a tear of his knee ligament. When the injury meant he was omitted from Bangladesh's 15-man squad for the 2011 World Cup
in February, Mortaza said that it was "the most painful day" of his life. He hoped to recover in time, and when it was announced that Mortaza had not been included in the World Cup squad there was rioting in Bangladesh and in one place a half-day strike.
Mortaza was recalled to the squad to face Australia in three ODIs
in April. He finished as the team's leading wicket-taker with five wickets at an average of 29.00 from two matches, however he conceded runs at more than eight an over, the second highest in the series of those who had bowled at least ten over. Bangladesh lost the series 3–0 and in the third match, Mortaza took his 150th ODI wicket with the dismissal of Callum Ferguson
. The knee injury incurred in December required surgery which was deferred until May; the operation left him unable to play cricket until at least October.
is now considered quicker. Mortaza uses his aggressive bowling to challenge batsmen. Although a naturally aggressive player, his accurate bowling has led to comparisons with Australian fast-bowler Glenn McGrath
. He has been described by commentators as having "a strong sturdy physic ... sheer pace and stamina with an aggressive frame of mind". After his knee injury, Mortaza was forced to alter his bowling action
slightly, and lost some pace. He has tried to develop his use of reverse swing
in an attempt to become a more effective bowler.
Jamie Siddons, the Bangladesh coach, has stated that he believes Mortaza does not get the bowling figures he deserves because "opposing teams tend to see him off and then attack the others". Mortaza has also commented that "it always puts pressure on the bowlers when their side is bowled out cheaply in the first innings", something that the Bangladesh batting line-up has sometimes struggled with.
Although primarily a bowler, Mortaza is an aggressive batsman as demonstrated by his high Test match strike rate of 67.25. He holds Bangladeshi records for highest strike rate in Tests and ODIs, and for scoring the most runs in an ODI over (26 runs including four sixes). Mortaza's batting is characterised by a reluctance to get in line with the bowling and he prefers to take a step towards square leg to facilitate his powerful shots. He has suffered a plethora of injuries, in his own words from 2007: "Left knee, three operations; right knee, one operation; back, stress fracture—it's better now but still gives some trouble—some shoulder problems; ankles, damaged ligaments twice".
Man of the match awards:
Career performance:
Man of the Series awards:
Man of the match awards:
Career performance:
Narail District
Narail is a district in South-western in Bangladesh. It is a part of the Khulna Division.-Geography:Narail District with an area of 990.23 km², is bounded by Magura District on the north, Khulna District on the south, Faridpur District and Gopalganj District on the east, and by Jessore...
, Jessore) is a Bangladeshi cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
er. He broke into the national side in late 2001 against Zimbabwe and represented Bangladesh before having played a single first-class
First-class cricket
First-class cricket is a class of cricket that consists of matches of three or more days' scheduled duration, that are between two sides of eleven players and are officially adjudged first-class by virtue of the standard of the competing teams...
match. Mortaza captained his country in one Test and seven One Day Internationals (ODIs) between 2009 and 2010, however he has been plagued by injury and Shakib Al Hasan
Shakib Al Hasan
Shakib Al Hasan is a Bangladeshi international cricketer of the national team. He is an all-rounder, batting left-handed in the middle order and bowling slow left-arm orthodox. He represented Bangladesh at under-19 level, 18 Youth One Day Internationals between 2005 and 2006...
was appointed captain in Mortaza's absence.
Mortaza is considered one of the fastest bowlers produced by Bangladesh, usually bowling
Bowling (cricket)
In the sport of cricket, bowling is the action of propelling the ball toward the wicket defended by a batsman. A player skilled at bowling is called a bowler; a bowler who is also a competent batsman is known as an all-rounder...
in the mid-80s mph (130s km/h), and regularly opens the bowling. He is a useful lower-middle order
Batting order (cricket)
In cricket, the batting order is the sequence in which batsmen play through their team's innings, there always being two batsmen taking part at any one time...
batsman, with a first-class century
Century (cricket)
In the sport of cricket, a batsman reaches his century when he scores 100 or more runs in a single innings. The term is also included in "century partnership" which occurs when two batsmen add 100 runs to the team total when they are batting together. A century is regarded as a landmark score for...
and three Test
Test cricket
Test cricket is the longest form of the sport of cricket. Test matches are played between national representative teams with "Test status", as determined by the International Cricket Council , with four innings played between two teams of 11 players over a period of up to a maximum five days...
half centuries to his name. Mortaza's career to-date has been hampered by injuries.
He was bought by Kolkata Knight Riders
Kolkata Knight Riders
Kolkata Knight Riders is the franchise representing Kolkata in the Indian Premier League, a Twenty20 cricket tournament. Sourav Ganguly led the team in IPL1 and IPL3, Brendon McCullum in IPL2, and Gautam Gambhir in IPL4...
for the 2009 Indian Premier League
2009 Indian Premier League
The 2009 Indian Premier League season, abbreviated as IPL 2 or the 2009 IPL, was the second season of the Indian Premier League, established by the Board of Control for Cricket in India in 2007. The tournament was hosted by South Africa and was played between 18 April and 24 May 2009...
; although KKR paid US$600,000 for Mortaza, he played just one match for them. Due to his international commitments, Mortaza has infrequently played for Khulna Division
Khulna Division cricket team
The Khulna Division cricket team is a first-class cricket team representing the Khulna Division region in Bangladesh.The club plays most of its home games at the Khulna Divisional Stadium in Khulna.-Honours:...
, in Bangladesh's domestic cricket competitions. While he has represented Bangladesh 36 times in Tests
Test cricket
Test cricket is the longest form of the sport of cricket. Test matches are played between national representative teams with "Test status", as determined by the International Cricket Council , with four innings played between two teams of 11 players over a period of up to a maximum five days...
and in 117 ODIs between 2001 and 2010 he has played only 11 first-class
First-class cricket
First-class cricket is a class of cricket that consists of matches of three or more days' scheduled duration, that are between two sides of eleven players and are officially adjudged first-class by virtue of the standard of the competing teams...
and 9 list A matches for Khulna Division in the same period.
Personal life
Mortaza was born in the district of NarailNarail District
Narail is a district in South-western in Bangladesh. It is a part of the Khulna Division.-Geography:Narail District with an area of 990.23 km², is bounded by Magura District on the north, Khulna District on the south, Faridpur District and Gopalganj District on the east, and by Jessore...
in south-west Bangladesh. Although he enjoyed playing sports such as football and badminton
Badminton
Badminton is a racquet sport played by either two opposing players or two opposing pairs , who take positions on opposite halves of a rectangular court that is divided by a net. Players score points by striking a shuttlecock with their racquet so that it passes over the net and lands in their...
from a young age—sometimes going swimming in the nearby River Chitra instead of doing school work—Mortaza was more interested in cricket as a youth, especially batting. Despite this, his bowling is now his main attribute and his pace has gained him the nickname of the "Narail Express".
Mortaza has been described as an open and animated character who enjoys motorcycling. He used to travel from a local bridge onto the tops of passing goods barges. He is very popular in his home town, leading to him being dubbed their "Prince of Hearts". At Govt. Victoria College, Narail, Mortaza met Sumona Haque Shumi, whom he married in 2006.
Emergence
Mortaza is one of the most successful pace bowlersFast bowling
Fast bowling, sometimes known as pace bowling, is one of the two main approaches to bowling in the sport of cricket. The other is spin bowling...
to have emerged from Bangladesh. The pace and aggression Mortaza displayed as an under-19 player impressed Andy Roberts, the former West Indian fast bowler, who was acting as a temporary bowling coach for Bangladesh. Under Roberts' recommendation, Mortaza was drafted into the Bangladesh A
Bangladesh A cricket team
The Bangladesh A cricket team is a cricket team representing Bangladesh, and is the "second tier" of international Bangladeshi cricket below the full Bangladeshi cricket team. The team played its first game, against the full Pakistan side, in 2001/02...
team.
After one match for Bangladesh A (to date his only Bangladesh A match), Mortaza made his Test
Test cricket
Test cricket is the longest form of the sport of cricket. Test matches are played between national representative teams with "Test status", as determined by the International Cricket Council , with four innings played between two teams of 11 players over a period of up to a maximum five days...
debut on 8 November 2001 against Zimbabwe in the Bangabandhu National Stadium
Bangabandhu National Stadium
Bangabandhu National Stadium, also known as Dhaka Stadium, and formerly known as Dacca Stadium is the national stadium and a multipurpose sports arena in Dhaka, Bangladesh. It is located in the Motijheel area in the heart of the city...
in Dhaka
Dhaka
Dhaka is the capital of Bangladesh and the principal city of Dhaka Division. Dhaka is a megacity and one of the major cities of South Asia. Located on the banks of the Buriganga River, Dhaka, along with its metropolitan area, had a population of over 15 million in 2010, making it the largest city...
. Khaled Mahmud
Khaled Mahmud
Khaled Mahmud is a former Bangladeshi cricketer. A medium-pace bowler and middle-order batsman, he played international cricket for Bangladesh from 1998 to 2006, captaining the team from 2003 to 2004....
also debuted in the match, which was curtailed by rain and ended in a draw. Mortaza opened the bowling with Mohammad Manjural Islam and took 4 wicket
Wicket
In the sport of cricket the word wicket has several distinct meanings:-Definitions of wicket:Most of the time, the wicket is one of the two sets of three stumps and two bails at either end of the pitch...
s for 106 runs
Run (cricket)
In the sport of cricket, a run is the basic unit of scoring. Runs are scored by a batsman, and the aggregate of the scores of a team's batsmen constitutes the team's score. A batsman scoring 50 or 100 runs , or any higher multiple of 50 runs, is considered a particular achievement...
(also written as 4/106) as Zimbabwe did not bat a second time. His first, also known as "maiden", Test wicket was that of Grant Flower
Grant Flower
Grant William Flower is a Zimbabwean cricketer. He is rated among the best Zimbabwean cricketers in history for his handy left arm spin and fine batting skills. He was a fitness fanatic who spends hours in the gym, and was also regarded as a brilliant fielder who was usually seen in the gully...
. Unusually the match was also Mortaza's maiden first-class
First-class cricket
First-class cricket is a class of cricket that consists of matches of three or more days' scheduled duration, that are between two sides of eleven players and are officially adjudged first-class by virtue of the standard of the competing teams...
match; he was the 31st person to have achieved this, and the third since 1899. Mortaza also made his first appearance for Bangladesh's one day team on 23 November 2001 along with fellow debutants Fahim Muntasir
Fahim Muntasir
Fahim Muntasir Rahman is a former Bangladeshi cricketer who played in 3 Tests and 3 ODIs from 2001 to 2002....
and Tushar Imran
Tushar Imran
Sheikh Tushar Imran is a cricketer from Bangladesh who has represented his country in 4 Test matches and 37 One Day International...
. Opening the bowling with Mohammad Sharif
Mohammad Sharif (cricketer)
Mohammad Sharif is a Bangladeshi cricketer who played in 8 Tests and 8 ODIs from 2001 to 2002. He was called in the national side after five years for the Bangladesh tour of Zimbabwe for ODIs, and was recalled for tests after five and a half years for the Indian tour of Bangladesh...
, Mortaza finished with figures
Bowling analysis
In the sport of cricket, a bowling analysis usually refers to a notation summarising a bowler's performance in terms of overs bowled, how many of those overs are maidens , total runs conceded and number of wickets taken...
of 2/26 from 8.2 overs
Over (cricket)
In the sport of cricket, an over is a set of six consecutive balls bowled in succession. An over is normally bowled by a single bowler. However, in the event of injury preventing a bowler from completing an over, it is completed by a teammate....
as Zimbabwe won the match by five wickets.
Injury problems
After the Test series against Zimbabwe and one against New Zealand, Mortaza missed the series against Pakistan in January 2002 as he was suffering from a back injury. While recovering, Mortaza suffered a knee injury while skipping and required an operation. As a result, he was unable to play cricket for a further eight months. At this stage of his career, Mortaza had played four Tests and taken 12 wickets at an averageBowling average
Bowling average is a statistic measuring the performance of bowlers in the sport of cricket.A bowler's bowling average is defined as the total number of runs conceded by the bowlers divided by the number of wickets taken by the bowler, so the lower the average the better. It is similar to earned...
of 31.16.
Mortaza did not return to international cricket until the 2003 World Cup
2003 Cricket World Cup
-Group stage tables and results:The top three teams from each pool qualify for the next stage, carrying forward the points already scored against fellow qualifiers, plus a quarter of the points scored against the teams that failed to qualify.-Pool A:...
in South Africa during 2003. Bangladesh failed to progress past the round-robin stage, and Mortaza played in two matches collecting two wickets at an average of 38.00.
In October and November 2003, England toured Bangladesh for two-Tests and three ODIs. In the second Test, Mortaza took what at the time was his best Test figures of 4/60 before succumbing to injury, collapsing with a twisted knee after delivering the ball
Follow through (cricket)
In the sport of cricket, the follow through is the motion of the bowler after releasing the ball.-See also:*Grip*Approach*Bound*Back foot contact*Front foot contact*Point of release*Cricket terminology...
. Despite challenging England in the series, Bangladesh lost 2-0, Mortaza finished the series with 8 wickets at an average of 21.25. As a result, he was again out of international cricket; this time for over a year. Injuries in the first three years of his international career saw Mortaza only play 12 Tests and not more than four in a row.
Success
Mortaza returned from his career threatening injury and, after impressing in Bangladesh domestic cricket, he was selected in the 13-man squad to face India in a home two-Test series during December 2004. He announced his return to Test cricket in the first Test at Dhaka by dismissing Rahul DravidRahul Dravid
Rahul Sharad Dravid , is a cricketer in the Indian national team, of which he has been a regular member since 1996. He was appointed as the captain of the Indian cricket team in October 2005 and resigned from the post in September 2007. Dravid was honoured as one of the top-five Wisden Cricketers...
. He bowled consistently in the series and nearly dismissed Sachin Tendulkar
Sachin Tendulkar
Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar is an Indian cricketer widely regarded as one of the greatest batsmen in the history of cricket. He is the leading run-scorer and century maker in Test and one-day international cricket. He is the only male player to score a double century in the history of ODI cricket...
and Sourav Ganguly
Sourav Ganguly
Sourav Chandidas Ganguly is a former Indian cricketer, and captain of the Indian national team. Born into an affluent family, Ganguly was introduced into the world of cricket by his elder brother Snehasish. He is regarded as one of India's most successful captains in modern times. He started his...
, but catches
Caught
Caught is a method of dismissing a batsman in the sport of cricket. Being caught out is the most common method of dismissal at higher levels of competition...
were dropped. Mortaza finished the series with five wickets at an average of 37.00, although Bangladesh lost 2-0. In the following ODI series, Mortaza played an instrumental role in Bangladesh's 16 run defeat of India in the second ODI on 26 December 2004. He was awarded the man of the match for his all-round performance—taking two wickets, two catches and scoring 31 not out
Not out
In cricket, a batsman will be not out if he comes out to bat in an innings and has not been dismissed by the end of the innings. One may similarly describe a batsman as not out while the innings is still in progress...
. The match was Bangladesh's 100th ODI and Mortaza's first one day cricket in 15 months. Bangladesh went on to lose the series 2-1.
In January 2005 Zimbabwe toured Bangladesh, playing two Tests and five ODIs. Bangladesh won the Test series one Test to nil, their first series victory in Test cricket. In addition, Bangladesh's victory in the first Test at the MA Aziz Stadium
MA Aziz Stadium
MA Aziz Stadium is the main stadium in use in Chittagong, Bangladesh. The local cricket and football teams play there. Its total capacity is 20,000. On a historical note, this stadium was used as headquarters during the war for independence in 1971...
was their first Test win. In the final innings of the first match, Mortaza took the ninth wicket and with victory imminent he struggled to bowl the next ball and had to wipe away tears and regain his composure before starting his run up. Despite a sore back in the second Test, Mortaza continued to bowl. In the two Tests, Mortaza scored 93 runs at an average of 31.00 and took nine wickets at an average of 24.88. In a close ODI series, Bangladesh won 3-2 after being 2-0 down, Mortaza played in four matches and took four wickets at an average of 40.00.
Playing for Khulna Division against Sylhet Division
Sylhet Division cricket team
Sylhet Division is a first-class cricket team representing the Sylhet Division region in Bangladesh.-Honours:* National Cricket League 4 Day Matches - 3rd in 2010-11 * National Cricket League One-Day Format Champions - 2001-02...
in March 2005, Mortaza scored his maiden first-class century. Batting at number four
Batting order (cricket)
In cricket, the batting order is the sequence in which batsmen play through their team's innings, there always being two batsmen taking part at any one time...
in his team's second innings, Mortaza scored 132 not out from 140 balls; the innings far surpassing his previous best first-class score of 70, and was named man of the match.
Mortaza enhanced his reputation on Bangladesh's inaugural tour of England
Bangladeshi cricket team in England in 2005
Michael Vaughan won the toss and put Bangladesh in to bat at 10.30am on the first day at Lord's. The first ten overs of bowling by Steve Harmison and Matthew Hoggard were lacklustre, as neither mastered the early-morning swing and they bowled a wide line. A stronger side would have scored more runs...
, and was the team's leading bowler, although his team lost the two-match Test series 2-0. He was by far the most economical of the Bangladeshi bowlers, conceding on average nearly half a run less per over than the next best bowler. Mortaza finished the series with four wickets at 49.50 and was the team's leading wicket taker. He consistently troubled the English batsmen, repeatedly beating the bat. A ODI tri-series followed in which Bangladesh recorded their maiden win against Australia. Mortaza's bowling was important in Bangladesh's huge upset against Australia in Cardiff, removing Adam Gilchrist
Adam Gilchrist
Adam Craig Gilchrist AM , nicknamed "Gilly" or "Churchy", is an Australian international cricketer who currently captains Kings XI Punjab and recently captained Middlesex. He is an attacking left-handed batsman and record-breaking wicket-keeper, who redefined the role for the Australian national...
for a duck and conceding 33 runs from 10 overs as Bangladesh won by five wickets. At the end of the tour, Mortaza was described as "Bangladesh's solitary cutting edge", underlining how important his bowling is to the team.
Mortaza was selected as a reserve player for the Asian squad in the inaugural Afro-Asia Cup
2005 Afro-Asian Cup
The Afro-Asia Cup was a cricket competition played for the first time in 2005 and which is intended to run for at least three years. The idea was to raise money for the Asian Cricket Council and the African Cricket Association, and the whole venture was given a massive boost when the ICC, somewhat...
. He was later drafted into the full squad as a replacement for the unavailable Rana Naved-ul-Hasan
Rana Naved-ul-Hasan
Rana Naved-ul-Hasan is a cricketer who plays for the Pakistani Test and One Day International teams...
. With batsman Mohammad Ashraful
Mohammad Ashraful
Mohammad Ashraful is a Bangladeshi international cricket player and has represented the Bangladesh national cricket team. A top-order batsman with a penchant for flashy strokeplay, he has also been selected to represent ACC Asia XI ODI side...
, he was one of two Bangladeshi players in the 15-man squad. Sultan Rana
Sultan Rana
Sultan Rana is a former Pakistani first class cricketer. One of his brothers, Shakoor Rana was a controversial international cricket umpire while two of his other brothers, Shafqat and Azmat played Test cricket for Pakistan....
, the Asia team manager, described Mortaza as "a very promising prospect, a terrific asset to the Bangladesh team". Mortaza did not play in any of the three ODIs.
Further injury
In September 2005 a back injury meant that Mortaza had to return home from Bangladesh's tour of Sri Lanka before the start of the first Test. It was the sixth time he had been sent home in the middle of a series. The injury—a type of stress fracture expected to take between six and twelve weeks to heal—saw Mortaza unable to play any cricket for several months. He returned to the Bangladesh side in February 2006 for a series of ODIs against Sri Lanka.Australia visited Bangladesh in April 2006
Australian cricket team in Bangladesh in 2005-06
The Australian cricket team ended the 2005-06 season by touring Bangladesh in April 2006. The series was seen as an uneventful way to end the season as Australia, who were twenty points clear of second place in the ICC Test Championship, played a Bangladeshi team who had won one Test match in their...
and Mortaza played the whole series. Despite coming close to winning the first Test, Bangladesh ultimately lost both Tests in the series. In the final innings of the first Test, Mortaza dropped a difficult catch off Australian captain Ricky Ponting
Ricky Ponting
Ricky Thomas Ponting , nicknamed Punter, is an Australian cricketer, a former captain of the Australian cricket team between 2004 and 2011 in Test cricket and 2002 and 2011 in One Day International cricket. He is a specialist right-handed batsman, slips and close catching fielder, as well as a very...
who went on to see his side to victory with 118 not out. Habibul Bashar
Habibul Bashar
Qazi Habibul Bashar is a Bangladeshi cricketer, and the former captain of the Bangladeshi cricket team. Under the managership of Davenell Frederick 'Dav' Whatmore, he has been found to be the most successful captain to lead the Bangladesh team to overcome several milestones. The first test...
, the Bangladesh captain, said of the dropped catch, "If he had taken it we could have seen a different situation, but I must say he tried hard and you all know that he is a whole-hearted cricketer". Bangladesh lost the following three-match ODI series 3-0.
In July and August 2006, Bangladesh toured Zimbabwe for a five-match ODI series. In the 3rd ODI, Mortaza was hit for six
Boundary (cricket)
Boundary has two distinct meanings in the sport of cricket:# the edge or boundary of the playing field, and# a manner of scoring runs.-Edge of the field:...
off the final ball of the match by Brendan Taylor
Brendan Taylor
Brendan Taylor is a Zimbabwean cricketer, who is mainly a batsman, but occasionally keeps wicket or bowls off-spin as well. He is currently the captain of the Zimbabwean cricket team, having taken over the reins from Elton Chigumbura after the 2011 Cricket World Cup...
, giving the Zimbabweans victory. With Zimbabwe already winning the series 3-1, Mortaza was dropped for the final match, which Bangladesh went on to win. In the four matches he played in, Mortaza took five wickets at an average of 29.20. Following their defeat by Zimbabwe, Bangladesh faced Kenya in three ODIs, winning them all. Mortaza was instrumental in the second victory, coming in with the score on 120/7 chasing 185 to win. He guided his team home with an 43 not out, farming the strike to protect the Bangladesh tail. Mortaza took career best bowling figures of 6/26 from his 10 overs in the final ODI, ensuring Bangladesh were chasing a low target. His figures are also the best in ODIs by any Bangladesh cricketer. In the calendar year of 2006 Mortaza was the world's highest wicket taker in ODIs, collecting 49 wickets. The haul was the most ever in a calendar year by a Bangladeshi, and 17th most for anyone.
In a freak accident shortly before the 2006 ICC Champions Trophy
2006 ICC Champions Trophy
The 2006 ICC Champions Trophy was a One Day International cricket tournament held in India from 7 October to 5 November 2006. It was the fifth edition of the ICC Champions Trophy...
, Mortaza sprained his ankle on the stairs at home. As a result, he was ruled out of the warm up matches before the tournament which was held on October. Mortaza recovered in time to play in all three of Bangladesh's matches, taking two wickets at 50.50, as Bangladesh failed to progress beyond the first round.
2007 World Cup and vice-captaincy
In February 2007, Bangladesh again toured Zimbabwe for a one day series, this time as a prelude to the 2007 World Cup2007 Cricket World Cup
The 2007 ICC Cricket World Cup was the ninth edition of the ICC Cricket World Cup tournament that took place in the West Indies from 13 March to 28 April 2007, using the sport's One Day International format...
. Bangladesh won the four match series 3-1, and Mortaza finished as Bangladesh's leading wicket-taker with 8 wickets at 16.50. When Bangladesh beat New Zealand in a warm-up match before the World Cup, Mortaza produced what was described as a "fine all-round display". He took four wickets and scored an unbeaten 30 off 16 balls to ensure victory by two wickets. He was also the man of the match in Bangladesh's victory over India during the group stage of the 2007 World Cup, taking 4/38; at the time they were the best figures by a Bangladesh bowler at a World Cup. Bangladesh progressed to the second round of the tournament, and Mortaza played in all nine of the team's matches, taking nine wickets at an average of 35.88.
Shortly after the World Cup, India toured Bangladesh
Indian cricket team in Bangladesh in 2007
The Indian cricket team toured Bangladesh for two Test matches and three One Day Internationals in May 2007. The first match was played on May 10, the first of three ODIs with India defeating Bangladesh by five wickets - less than two months after Bangladesh shocked India by defeating them by five...
for two Test matches and three ODIs. Bangladesh lost the Test series 1-0, but Mortaza finished as both the team's leading run-scorer and wicket-taker with 151 runs at 50.33 with two fifties—including his maiden Test half-century—and 6 wickets at 38.33. Bangladesh lost the ODI series 2-0. After Habibul Bashar
Habibul Bashar
Qazi Habibul Bashar is a Bangladeshi cricketer, and the former captain of the Bangladeshi cricket team. Under the managership of Davenell Frederick 'Dav' Whatmore, he has been found to be the most successful captain to lead the Bangladesh team to overcome several milestones. The first test...
stepped down from Bangladesh's one day captaincy, Mohammad Ashraful
Mohammad Ashraful
Mohammad Ashraful is a Bangladeshi international cricket player and has represented the Bangladesh national cricket team. A top-order batsman with a penchant for flashy strokeplay, he has also been selected to represent ACC Asia XI ODI side...
was appointed the team captain in all forms of cricket on 2 June 2007. On the same day, it was announced that Mortaza was the new vice-captain. When Bangladesh toured Sri Lanka in June and July 2007
Bangladeshi cricket team in Sri Lanka in 2007
The Bangladesh cricket team toured Sri Lanka for three Test matches and three One Day Internationals in June and July 2007. This series held Mohammad Ashraful's first Test and ODI matches as captain of Bangladesh...
, Mortaza took 3 wickets at 91.33 in three Test matches as Bangladesh lost the series 3-0. His poor performance led to suggestions that Mortaza was uninterested in the series; he denied this and put performance down to a lack of confidence and fatigue from an intensive international schedule over the previous two years. He featured in one match of the three-match ODI series; taking two wickets at 15.50 and Bangladesh again lost 3-0.
Mortaza was selected for the Asia squad to play in the 2007 Afro-Asia Cup
2007 Afro-Asia Cup
-2nd ODI: -3rd ODI: -External links:*...
, a three-match ODI series, replacing Pakistan fast-bowler Shoaib Akhtar
Shoaib Akhtar
Shoaib Akhtar is a former Pakistani right arm fast bowler in cricket, who is regarded as the fastest bowler in the history of cricket. He set an official world record by achieving the fastest delivery, when he clocked in at 161.3 km/h in his bowling speed, twice at a cricket match against...
. Along with spin bowler Mohammad Rafique
Mohammad Rafique
Mohammed Rafique is a Bangladeshi cricketer. He is the leading wicket-taker for Bangladesh in Test matches.-International career:...
, Mortaza was one of two Bangladesh players in the squad. Mortaza played in two of the three matches, taking one wicket at an average of 108 runs as Asia won the series 3-0. At the inaugural World Twenty20, held in South Africa in September 2007, Mortaza took two wickets at 80.00 and scored 35 runs at 8.75 in five matches as Bangladesh progressed to the second stage of the tournament. In a match against Australia in the tournament, Mortaza became one of three victims of the first T20I hat-trick. Brett Lee
Brett Lee
Brett Lee is an Australian cricketer.After breaking into the Australian Test team, Lee was recognised as one of the fastest bowlers in world cricket...
claimed Shakib Al Hasan's wicket, followed by Mortaza's and then that of Alok Kapali
Alok Kapali
Alok Kapali is a Bangladeshi cricketer. He is an allrounder who bats in the middle to lower order and bowls leg spin with a run-up similar to that of Shane Warne. He is the only Bangladeshi cricket player to take a Test hat-trick.-Test career:Kapali made his Test debut in 2002, against Sri...
to help Australia to a 9-wicket win.
When Bangladesh toured New Zealand
Bangladesh cricket team in New Zealand in 2007-08
The Bangladesh cricket team toured New Zealand between December 19 2007 and January 16, 2008 to play three one day internationals and two Test matches. This was the second Bangladeshi tour to New Zealand and the third series between the countries following New Zealand's 2004-05 tour to Bangladesh...
in December 2007 and January 2008, the team lost the Test series 2-0 and the ODI series 3-0. Mortaza played in both of the Tests, taking seven wickets at 26.85 and finished as the team's leading wicket-taker. However he was less successful in the ODI series, taking one wicket for 123 runs in three matches. In Bangladesh's two Tests against South Africa in February and March 2008
South African cricket team in Bangladesh in 2007-08
-2nd Test:-1st ODI: -2nd ODI: -3rd ODI: -Bangladesh Cricket Board XI v South Africans:-BCB XI v South Africans:...
, Mortaza failed to take a single wicket in either match and his team lost 2-0. As a result of his dip in form, Mortaza was dropped for the first match of the three-match ODI series that followed. After Bangladesh lost the opening match of the series, Mortaza returned for the final two ODIs and took one wicket for 45 runs; Bangladesh went on to lose the series 3-0. Ireland toured Bangladesh in March 2008
Irish cricket team in Bangladesh in 2007-08
-To Be Confirmed v Irishmen:-To Be Confirmed v Irishmen:-External links:*...
; during the tour Mortaza and two other Bangladesh players faced disciplinary action for missing a practice session. Bangladesh were undefeated in the three-match ODI series, with Mortaza collecting four wickets at 22.75 and a man of the match award.
In August and September 2008, Bangladesh toured Australia
Bangladesh cricket team in Australia in 2008
-2nd ODI:-3rd ODI:-Australian Institute of Sport v Bangladeshis:-Australian Institute of Sport v Bangladeshis:-Australian Institute of Sport v Bangladeshis:-Australian Institute of Sport v Bangladeshis:...
for three ODIs. Before the ODIs started, Mortaza was struggling with his persistent knee injury. Bangladesh lost all three matches, and although not missing a match, Mortaza failed to take a wicket. After the series, doctors examined the knee and identified a collection of fluid in Mortaza's left knee. He was told that he can continue bowling for up to a year, but then he will require minor surgery to drain the fluid. The operation would keep him from playing cricket for six to eight weeks. In September 2008, Mortaza was approached by the Indian Cricket League
Indian Cricket League
The Indian Cricket League was a private cricket league funded by Zee Entertainment Enterprises that operated between 2007 and 2009 in India...
to join the newly formed Dhaka Warriors
Dhaka Warriors
Dhaka Warriors was one of the nine teams played in the 2008 competition of the defunct Indian Cricket League . The captain is former Bangladeshi captain and batsman Habibul Bashar. The Dhaka Warriors is solely composed of Bangladeshi players and is only the second team in the competition to be...
. The league was not legitimate according to the ICC, whose lead was followed by the Bangladesh Cricket Board
Bangladesh Cricket Board
Bangladesh Cricket Board , previously known as the Bangladesh Cricket Control Board, is the main governing body of cricket in Bangladesh. The Board has its headquarters in Dhaka, it is responsible for the operation and development of cricket, maintenance of of venues, and selection for the...
(BCB), and the 13 players who chose to join were given 10-year bans by the BCB. Mortaza turned down the offer, asserting that his main priority was to play for Bangladesh.
When New Zealand toured Bangladesh in October 2008, Mortaza was part of Bangladesh's maiden ODI victory against New Zealand. He took 4/44 as his team won by seven wickets, but the team went on to lose the series 2-1. He finished as the series leading wicket-taker. In the two-match Test series which followed, Mortaza took three wickets at an average of 28.33 and scored 92 runs at an average of 30.66 as Bangladesh lost the series 1-0.
When Bangladesh toured South Africa in November 2008, Bangladesh lost the two-match and three-match Test and ODI series 2-0 and 3-0 respectively. Mortaza was forced to miss out on Bangladesh's warm up match due to a sore back, but played in all the Tests and ODIs, taking two expensive wickets in each series.
On 6 February 2009, an auction was held in which teams in the Indian Premier League
Indian Premier League
The Indian Premier League is a professional league for Twenty20 cricket competition in India. It was initiated by the Board of Control for Cricket in India , headquartered in Mumbai, and is supervised by BCCI Vice President Rajeev Shukla, who serves as the league's Chairman and Commissioner...
made bids for players for the 2009 Indian Premier League
2009 Indian Premier League
The 2009 Indian Premier League season, abbreviated as IPL 2 or the 2009 IPL, was the second season of the Indian Premier League, established by the Board of Control for Cricket in India in 2007. The tournament was hosted by South Africa and was played between 18 April and 24 May 2009...
, the second season of the competition. Mortaza's starting price was US$50,000; the Kolkata Knight Riders
Kolkata Knight Riders
Kolkata Knight Riders is the franchise representing Kolkata in the Indian Premier League, a Twenty20 cricket tournament. Sourav Ganguly led the team in IPL1 and IPL3, Brendon McCullum in IPL2, and Gautam Gambhir in IPL4...
and the Kings XI Punjab
Kings XI Punjab
Kings XI Punjab is a cricket franchise based in Mohali, Punjab in the Indian Premier League. For the IPL3, an additional venue has been chosen at Dharamsala.-Franchise History:...
were involved in a bidding war over Mortaza, driving up his price. The winning bid was US$600,000 by the Kolata Knight Riders. Preity Zinta
Preity Zinta
Preity Zinta is an Indian film actress. She has appeared in Hindi films of Bollywood, as well as Telugu, Punjabi and English language films. After graduating with a degree in criminal psychology, Zinta made her acting debut in Dil Se in 1998 followed by a role in Soldier the same year...
, a stake holder in the Kings XI Punjab team, said "Mortaza is a great player, an all-rounder and we wanted him". Buying Mortaza's was part of the Kolkata Knight Riders' attempt to appeal to a wider audience, including Bangladeshis. Mortaza played just one match for the Kolkata Knight Riders; in the most expensive spell of the 2009 IPL, he bowled the final over of the match, conceding 21 runs to allow the Deccan Chargers
Deccan Chargers
Hyderabad Deccan Chargers known in short as DC or 'Chargers' is a cricket franchise that represents the city of Hyderabad in the Indian Premier League...
to secure victory.
Captaincy
| Mortaza's record as captain | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Matches | Won | Lost | Drawn | |
| Test | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| ODI | 7 | 3 | 4 | – |
In early 2009, Ashraful's position as captain came under scrutiny and the BCB considered possible replacements. Mortaza, wicket-keeper
Wicket-keeper
The wicket-keeper in the sport of cricket is the player on the fielding side who stands behind the wicket or stumps being guarded by the batsman currently on strike...
Mushfiqur Rahim
Mushfiqur Rahim
Mohammad Mushfiqur Rahim is a Bangladeshi cricketer and captain of the national team. Between August 2009 and December 2010 Rahim served as Bangladesh's vice-captain. He specialises as a wicket-keeper and is a lower-order batsman...
, and all-rounder
All-rounder
An all-rounder is a cricketer who regularly performs well at both batting and bowling. Although all bowlers must bat and quite a few batsmen do bowl occasionally, most players are skilled in only one of the two disciplines and are considered specialists...
Shakib Al Hasan
Shakib Al Hasan
Shakib Al Hasan is a Bangladeshi international cricketer of the national team. He is an all-rounder, batting left-handed in the middle order and bowling slow left-arm orthodox. He represented Bangladesh at under-19 level, 18 Youth One Day Internationals between 2005 and 2006...
were identified as potential successors, but the board decided to let Ashraful remain as captain. Mortaza was also reconfirmed as vice-captain. Following Bangladesh's early exit from the 2009 ICC World Twenty20
2009 ICC World Twenty20
The 2009 ICC World Twenty20 was an international Twenty20 cricket tournament which took place in England in June 2009. It was the second ICC World Twenty20 tournament, following the inaugural event in South Africa in September 2007...
, as a result of their defeat by Ireland, Mohammad Ashfraful's leadership was criticised, but stated that he wished to remain captain. In June 2009, the BCB relieved Ashraful of the captaincy so that he could focus on his batting and Mortaza was appointed captain for the tours of the West Indies and Zimbabwe. Shakib Al Hasan replaced Mortaza as vice-captain.
In July 2009, Bangladesh toured the West Indies
Bangladeshi cricket team in West Indies in 2009
The Bangladesh cricket team is touring West Indies for a 2-match Test series, a 3-match ODI series, and 1 Twenty20 International from July 3, 2009 to August 2, 2009.-Bangladesh:# Mashrafe Mortaza # Shakib Al Hasan # Mohammad Ashraful...
. Mortaza's captaincy was off to a winning start in his first Test in charge when Bangladesh beat the West Indies. However, he injured his knee and was unable to take to the field on the final day, leaving Shakib Al Hasan to assume the captaincy and lead the team to a historic win; it was their first against the West Indies, their first overseas Test victory, and only their second Test win. This was achieved against a very inexperienced West Indies side as a result of a dispute between the West Indies Cricket Board
West Indies Cricket Board
The West Indies Cricket Board is the governing body for professional and amateur cricket in the West Indies...
and the West Indies Players' Association over pay. The first XI had made themselves unavailable for selection and a new squad had to be chosen. Seven West Indies players made their Test debut in the match and the side was captained by Floyd Reifer
Floyd Reifer
Floyd Lamonte Reifer is a Barbadian cricketer. He is a left-handed middle-order batsman and a right-arm medium pace bowler....
who had played the last of his four Tests ten years earlier.
Mortaza's injury prevented him from taking part in the remainder of the tour and his replacement, Shakib Al Hasan, led Bangladesh to a 2–0 and 3–0 victories in the Test and ODI series respectively. The West Indies' dispute remained unsolved for the rest of Bangladesh's tour and the West Indies continued to field an inexperienced side. The knee injury also ruled Mortaza out of playing on the tour of Zimbabwe in August. In early August, Mortaza travelled to Australia to undergo arthroscopic surgery
Arthroscopy
Arthroscopy is a minimally invasive surgical procedure in which an examination and sometimes treatment of damage of the interior of a joint is performed using an arthroscope, a type of endoscope that is inserted into the joint through a small incision...
on both knees; the expected recovery time from the operation was six weeks. Although Mortaza was reinstated as Bangladesh's captain for the team's home ODI series against Zimbabwe in October 2009, he did not play in the series. His injury persisted, and he did not play competitive cricket from his injury in July 2009 until February 2010.
Struggles with injury
Once his knee had recovered, Mortaza suffered another setback when he was prevented playing against New Zealand in February 2010 due to a fever. Mortaza made his comeback from injury in a match for Bangladesh Cricket Board XI against England during their tour of BangladeshEnglish cricket team in Bangladesh in 2009–10
The England cricket team toured Bangladesh, playing three One Day Internationals and two Test matches, at the end of the 2009–10 cricket season. They were captained by Alastair Cook, due to regular captain Andrew Strauss controversially missing the series to rest for the 2010–11 Ashes series...
. Following the match, he commented that he had no interest in regaining the captaincy as in his opinion Shakib Al Hasan had done a good job. He also said that if his injury problems persisted he would contemplate retiring from Test cricket to focus on ODIs and T20s, similar to fellow fast bowlers Shane Bond
Shane Bond
Shane Edward Bond was a New Zealand cricketer, described as "New Zealand's best fast bowler since Sir Richard Hadlee". He has represented New Zealand in Test, ODI and Twenty20 International cricket as well as playing for Canterbury in New Zealand domestic cricket and Warwickshire in English...
, Shaun Tait
Shaun Tait
Shaun William Tait is a professional Australian cricketer, who currently plays only in the Twenty20 format. Tait plays domestic cricket for South Australia and is also a representative for Australia at Twenty20 International level; he has also represented his country in One Day Internationals and...
, Andrew Flintoff
Andrew Flintoff
Andrew "Freddie" Flintoff MBE is a former English cricketer who played for Lancashire County Cricket Club, England and the Indian Premier League team Chennai Super Kings. A tall fast bowler, batsman and slip fielder, Flintoff according to the ICC rankings was consistently rated amongst the top...
, and Brett Lee
Brett Lee
Brett Lee is an Australian cricketer.After breaking into the Australian Test team, Lee was recognised as one of the fastest bowlers in world cricket...
. Mortaza declined to play in the Test series to avoid aggrivating his knee, but played only the first out of the three ODIs against England before withdrawing from Bangladesh's squad as he was about to be dropped. Bangladesh lost the one match Mortaza played in, and the captain criticised his bowling. Shakib Al Hasan said "The way Mashrafe bowled before his injury, that Mashrafe we might have missed tonight. But the way he bowled in the last match and the practice match, not really. He needs some time to get back to full confidence and rhythm. He needs to play some games and get match-fit again."
Mortaza continued to struggle for form in the 2010 Asia Cup
2010 Asia Cup
The 2010 Asia Cup was the tenth edition of the Asia Cup cricket tournament, which was held in Sri Lanka from 15–24 June 2010. India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh were taking part in the competition. India defeated Sri Lanka by 81 runs in the final to win a record 5th Asia Cup title...
, held in June, taking just two wickets in three matches at an average of 77.00. The coach, Jamie Siddons
Jamie Siddons
James Darren Siddons , commonly known as "Jamie", is an Australian cricketer, renowned for his involvement in Sheffield Shield first-class cricket over a 16-year career. He initially played for Victoria, and later for South Australia....
, commented that "He's going to have to improve a lot on his current form. Unfortunately there's no ready replacement for Mashrafe at the moment, we're hoping his experience will pull him through. We'll keep looking for others and if Mash can't stand up we'll have to replace him." Siddons also noted that since his comeback in 2010, Mortaza's bowling has not been as fast as it used to be. In the one-day leg of the return tour in England
Bangladeshi cricket team in England in 2010
-2nd Test:-1st ODI:-2nd ODI:-3rd ODI:-First Class: Surrey vs Bangladeshis:-First Class: Bangladeshis vs Essex:-First Class: Bangladeshis vs England Lions:-List A: Sussex vs Bangladeshis:-List A: Middlesex vs Bangladeshis:...
in July 2010, Mortaza regain the captaincy of the ODI side. He took over from Shakib Al Hasan who had stepped down after a dip in form. In the second ODI Bangladesh ended their 24-match losing streak; Mortaza led his country to their first victory over England in any form of cricket. However, Bangladesh were unable to seal a series victory and lost 2–1. Mortaza finished as joint-lead wicket-taker for the series with five wickets, equal with England's Ajmal Shahzad
Ajmal Shahzad
Ajmal Shahzad is an English cricketer who plays for Yorkshire County Cricket Club. A right-handed batsman and right-arm fast-medium bowler, he made his international debut in a Twenty20 International for England in February 2010...
. Later the same month, Bangladesh played two ODIs against Ireland, and one against the Netherlands; the team managed only one victory against Ireland. Analysing Bangladesh's performance on the tour, Mortaza noted his concern about the effectiveness of the team's bowling.
In the opening game of Bangladesh's five-match ODI series against New Zealand in October 2010
New Zealand cricket team in Bangladesh in 2010–11
The New Zealand cricket team toured Bangladesh from 5–17 October 2010. There were five One Day Internationals scheduled. This was the first time that Bangladesh won a series against a full strength test playing nation .-1st ODI:-2nd ODI:-3rd ODI:-4th ODI:-5th ODI:- References :...
, Mortaza suffered an ankle injury. As a result, he was unable to play again in the series and Shakib Al Hasan took over. Bangladesh won 4–0, a historic win as Bangladesh had never before won a series against a full-strength Test nation. At the start of November, the BCB announced 16 central contracts. Mortaza was one of six players in the top level. He returned to the Bangladesh squad for Zimbabwe's tour of the country in December 2010, but Shakib Al Hasan retained the captaincy. By his own admission, Mortaza struggled for form early in the series but believed that he would improve with match practice. After losing the opening match of the series, Bangladesh won the next three encounters and beat Zimbabwe 3–1; Mortaza finished with three wickets from four matches at an average of 32.66. At the end of the series Shakib praised the performance of his fast bowlers in the closing matches. While batting for Abahani in a Dhaka Premier Division League match in December, Mortaza suffered a tear of his knee ligament. When the injury meant he was omitted from Bangladesh's 15-man squad for the 2011 World Cup
2011 Cricket World Cup
The 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup was the tenth Cricket World Cup. It was played in India, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh. It was Bangladesh's first time co-hosting a World Cup...
in February, Mortaza said that it was "the most painful day" of his life. He hoped to recover in time, and when it was announced that Mortaza had not been included in the World Cup squad there was rioting in Bangladesh and in one place a half-day strike.
Mortaza was recalled to the squad to face Australia in three ODIs
Australian cricket team in Bangladesh in 2011
The Australian cricket team toured Bangladesh between 9 April to 13 April 2011. The tour consisted of three One Day Internationals . Michael Clarke was announced as the Australian captain, following Ricky Ponting's resignation.-Squads:-1st ODI:-2nd ODI:...
in April. He finished as the team's leading wicket-taker with five wickets at an average of 29.00 from two matches, however he conceded runs at more than eight an over, the second highest in the series of those who had bowled at least ten over. Bangladesh lost the series 3–0 and in the third match, Mortaza took his 150th ODI wicket with the dismissal of Callum Ferguson
Callum Ferguson
Callum James Ferguson is an Australian cricketer who currently plays Australian Domestic cricket for South Australia.He represented Australia at Under 19 level and debuted for the Australia one-day side in 2009...
. The knee injury incurred in December required surgery which was deferred until May; the operation left him unable to play cricket until at least October.
Playing style
Pitches in Bangladesh are generally slow and suit spin bowling; the domestic circuit is dominated by spin bowlers and former Bangladesh coach Jamie Siddons has opined that the pitches discourages the emergence of fast bowlers. Despite this in April 2008 he became the second Bangladesh bowler to take 100 wickets in ODIs and the first fast bowler from the team to pass the landmark. For a long time Mortaza was acclaimed as the fastest bowler that Bangladesh had produced, however Shahadat HossainShahadat Hossain
Kazi Shahadat Hossain is a Bangladeshi cricketer. He made his Test debut in 2005 during Bangladesh's first tour of England. When he came onto the international scnene he was cited by then coach Dav Whatmore as the fastest bowler in the team. The following year, Hossain made his One Day...
is now considered quicker. Mortaza uses his aggressive bowling to challenge batsmen. Although a naturally aggressive player, his accurate bowling has led to comparisons with Australian fast-bowler Glenn McGrath
Glenn McGrath
Glenn Donald McGrath AM , nicknamed "Pigeon", is a former Australian cricket player. He is one of the most highly regarded fast-medium pace bowlers in cricketing history, and a leading contributor to Australia's domination of world cricket from the mid-1990s to the early 21st century...
. He has been described by commentators as having "a strong sturdy physic ... sheer pace and stamina with an aggressive frame of mind". After his knee injury, Mortaza was forced to alter his bowling action
Bowling action
In the sport of cricket, the bowling action is the set of movements that result in the bowler releasing the ball in the general direction of the batsman.The bowling action can be broken down into a number of parts:*Grip*Approach...
slightly, and lost some pace. He has tried to develop his use of reverse swing
Swing bowling
Swing bowling is a technique used for bowling in the sport of cricket. Practitioners are known as swing bowlers. Swing bowling is generally classed as a subtype of fast bowling.-Physics of swing bowling:...
in an attempt to become a more effective bowler.
Jamie Siddons, the Bangladesh coach, has stated that he believes Mortaza does not get the bowling figures he deserves because "opposing teams tend to see him off and then attack the others". Mortaza has also commented that "it always puts pressure on the bowlers when their side is bowled out cheaply in the first innings", something that the Bangladesh batting line-up has sometimes struggled with.
Although primarily a bowler, Mortaza is an aggressive batsman as demonstrated by his high Test match strike rate of 67.25. He holds Bangladeshi records for highest strike rate in Tests and ODIs, and for scoring the most runs in an ODI over (26 runs including four sixes). Mortaza's batting is characterised by a reluctance to get in line with the bowling and he prefers to take a step towards square leg to facilitate his powerful shots. He has suffered a plethora of injuries, in his own words from 2007: "Left knee, three operations; right knee, one operation; back, stress fracture—it's better now but still gives some trouble—some shoulder problems; ankles, damaged ligaments twice".
Test matches
Records:- Highest ninth wicket partnershipPartnership (cricket)In the sport of cricket, two batsmen always bat in partnership, although only one is on strike at any time. The partnership between two batsmen will come to an end when one of them is dismissed or retires, or the innings comes to a close In the sport of cricket, two batsmen always bat in...
for Bangladesh: 77 with Shahadat HossainShahadat HossainKazi Shahadat Hossain is a Bangladeshi cricketer. He made his Test debut in 2005 during Bangladesh's first tour of England. When he came onto the international scnene he was cited by then coach Dav Whatmore as the fastest bowler in the team. The following year, Hossain made his One Day...
v India, 18 May 2007 - Highest batting strike rate of Bangladesh players facing 1,000 balls or more (67.20)
Man of the match awards:
| Date | Opponent | Ground | Record/Scorecards |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18–22 May 2007 | Bir Shrestha Shahid Ruhul Amin Stadium, Chittagong Chittagong Chittagong ) is a city in southeastern Bangladesh and the capital of an eponymous district and division. Built on the banks of the Karnaphuli River, the city is home to Bangladesh's busiest seaport and has a population of over 4.5 million, making it the second largest city in the country.A trading... |
Batting: 79; Bowling: 4/97 and 1/36 |
Career performance:
| Batting | Bowling | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Opposition | Matches | Runs | Average | High Score | 100 / 50 | Runs | Wickets | Average | Best |
| 4 | 40 | 5.71 | 15 | 0/0 | 355 | 7 | 50.71 | 3/74 | |
| 4 | 14 | 2.00 | 11 | 0/0 | 368 | 12 | 30.66 | 4/60 | |
| 4 | 168 | 28.00 | 79 | 0/2 | 418 | 11 | 38.00 | 4/97 | |
| 6 | 187 | 17.00 | 48 | 0/0 | 430 | 14 | 30.71 | 4/74 | |
| 2 | 43 | 21.50 | 14 | 0/0 | 204 | 3 | 68.00 | 3/68 | |
| 6 | 116 | 10.54 | 29 | 0/0 | 486 | 4 | 121.50 | 1/53 | |
| 5 | 88 | 8.80 | 63 | 0/1 | 511 | 10 | 51.10 | 3/58 | |
| 1 | 39 | 19.50 | 39 | 0/0 | 26 | 0 | – | – | |
| 4 | 102 | 17.00 | 48 | 0/0 | 441 | 17 | 25.94 | 4/106 | |
| Overall | 36 | 797 | 12.85 | 79 | 0/3 | 3,239 | 78 | 41.52 | 4/60 |
ODI matches
Records- Highest ninth wicket partnershipPartnership (cricket)In the sport of cricket, two batsmen always bat in partnership, although only one is on strike at any time. The partnership between two batsmen will come to an end when one of them is dismissed or retires, or the innings comes to a close In the sport of cricket, two batsmen always bat in...
for Bangladesh: 97 with Shakib Al Hasan v Pakistan, 16 April 2007 - Highest batting strike rate of Bangladesh players facing 1,000 balls or more (86.46)
- Most catches for Bangladesh by a non-wicketkeeper (36)
- Best bowling figures by a Bangladesh player (6/26 vs Kenya)
Man of the Series awards:
| Date | Opponent | Record/Series link |
|---|---|---|
| August 2006 | 43 runs without being dismissed; 12 wickets at an average of 8.66 (1 5wI). | |
| February 2007 | 43 runs at an average of 10.75; 8 wickets at an average of 16.50. | |
Man of the match awards:
| Date | Opponent | Ground | Record/Scorecards |
|---|---|---|---|
| 26 December 2004 | Bangabandhu National Stadium Bangabandhu National Stadium Bangabandhu National Stadium, also known as Dhaka Stadium, and formerly known as Dacca Stadium is the national stadium and a multipurpose sports arena in Dhaka, Bangladesh. It is located in the Motijheel area in the heart of the city... , Dhaka |
Batting: 31; Bowling: 2/36; Fielding: 2 catches | |
| 12 August 2006 | Gymkhana Club Ground, Nairobi Nairobi Nairobi is the capital and largest city of Kenya. The city and its surrounding area also forms the Nairobi County. The name "Nairobi" comes from the Maasai phrase Enkare Nyirobi, which translates to "the place of cool waters". However, it is popularly known as the "Green City in the Sun" and is... |
Batting: 31; Bowling: 3/25 | |
| 13 August 2006 | Gymkhana Club Ground, Nairobi | Batting: 43*; Bowling: 3/53 | |
| 15 August 2006 | Gymkhana Club Ground, Nairobi | Batting: did not bat; Bowling: 5/18 | |
| 17 December 2006 | Shere Bangla National Stadium, Mirpur Mirpur Thana Mirpur is a thana of Dhaka city, Bangladesh. It is bounded by Pallabi Thana to the north, Mohammadpur Thana to the south, Kafrul to the east - to the west it is bounded by Savar Upazila.-Geography:Mirpur is located at... |
Batting: 43*; Bowling: 2/39; Fielding: 1 catch | |
| 17 March 2007 | Queen's Park Oval Queen's Park Oval Queen's Park Oval, in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, is currently the largest capacity cricket ground in the West Indies and has hosted more Test matches than any other ground in the Caribbean. It also hosted a number of matches in the 2007 Cricket World Cup. It is privately owned by the... , Port of Spain Port of Spain Port of Spain, also written as Port-of-Spain, is the capital of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago and the country's third-largest municipality, after San Fernando and Chaguanas. The city has a municipal population of 49,031 , a metropolitan population of 128,026 and a transient daily population... |
Batting: did not bat; Bowling: 4/38 | |
| 18 March 2008 | Shere Bangla National Stadium, Mirpur | Batting: did not bat; Bowling: 3/22 |
Career performance:
| Batting | Bowling | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Opposition | Matches | Runs | Average | High Score | 100 / 50 | Runs | Wickets | Average | Best |
| 2 | 14 | 7.00 | 13 | 0/0 | 108 | 1 | 108.00 | 1/57 | |
| 14 | 66 | 9.42 | 25* | 0/0 | 600 | 15 | 40.00 | 3/54 | |
| 1 | – | – | – | 0/0 | 8 | 2 | 4.00 | 2/8 | |
| 2 | 0 | 0.00 | 0 | 0/0 | 80 | 2 | 40.00 | 2/38 | |
| 8 | 88 | 12.57 | 29* | 0/0 | 320 | 5 | 64.00 | 3/31 | |
| 7 | 125 | 41.66 | 42 | 0/0 | 316 | 9 | 35.11 | 4/38 | |
| 6 | 57 | 14.25 | 26 | 0/0 | 177 | 7 | 25.28 | 3/22 | |
| 7 | 89 | 89.00 | 44* | 0/0 | 240 | 19 | 12.63 | 6/26 | |
| 1 | 18 | 18.00 | 18 | 0/0 | 43 | 0 | – | – | |
| 8 | 72 | 12.00 | 27 | 0/0 | 294 | 8 | 36.75 | 4/44 | |
| 13 | 104 | 11.55 | 38 | 0/0 | 564 | 14 | 40.28 | 4/65 | |
| 2 | 51 | – | 51* | 0/1 | 88 | 4 | 22.00 | 2/39 | |
| 5 | 84 | 16.80 | 34 | 0/0 | 196 | 3 | 65.33 | 1/27 | |
| 12 | 147 | 16.33 | 34* | 0/0 | 571 | 14 | 40.87 | 3/25 | |
| 1 | 3 | 3.00 | 3 | 0/0 | 46 | 1 | 46.00 | 1/46 | |
| 2 | 44 | 22.00 | 37 | 0/0 | 64 | 1 | 64.00 | 1/39 | |
| 29 | 215 | 11.94 | 29 | 0/0 | 945 | 46 | 20.54 | 4/31 | |
| Overall | 120 | 1,177 | 15.48 | 51* | 0/1 | 4,660 | 151 | 30.86 | 6/26 |