A sensational spell of swing bowling for Bangladesh A against Kent in August 2005 propelled Syed Rasel into the international reckoning at the age of 21. Having steadily developed his trade on a difficult five-week tour, Rasel tore through Kent's defences with figures of 7 for 50 in the first innings and 10 for 91 in the match. It wasn't enough to win the match, but he was immediately drafted into the senior squad for the tour of Sri Lanka that September, where he made his Test and one-day debuts. With shades of Chaminda Vaas in his left-arm approach, he took six wickets in his first two matches, including 4 for 129 in the second Test at Colombo, a match that Bangladesh lost by an innings. Nevertheless, he soon had his revenge on home soil, taking 2 for 28 at Bogra the following February, as Sri Lanka slumped to their first-ever one-day defeat against Bangladesh. Having risen through the ranks from divisional cricket in his home province in Khulna, his ability to swing the ball at good pace sets him apart from many of his peers. Rasel damaged his foot in a motorbike accident before the Champions Trophy in October but was declared fit for the tournament. He did not play four of the five ODIs against Zimbabwe at home in December but made the cut for the World Cup in the West Indies.
Andrew Miller February 2007