Rubel slipping in Tests despite best help

Rubel Hossain is still recovering from a side strain and was not deemed fit enough to bowl on the Fatullah pitch against India. Chandika Hathurusingha, the Bangladesh coach, said Rubel was being saved for the subsequent ODI series - as Bangladesh seek to remain one of the top eight teams before the cut-off date for the Champions Trophy - but couldn't clarify the bowler's presence in the 14-man Test squad. He also couldn't explain the call to pick between Mohammad Shahid and Rubel, but he would have known the pitch in Fatullah was unlikely to assist pacers.

This is not the first time Rubel has been dropped for a Test in favour of a newer bowler. In 2010, he made way for Shafiul Islam against England in Manchester. Last year, Rubel and Robiul Islam were ignored for rookie seamer Al-Amin Hossain against Sri Lanka in Chittagong. The latest axe is perhaps as much admission from the Bangladesh team management of Rubel's struggle in the longer version as it is of his worth in limited overs.

Rubel is more than a reliable option in ODIs, but has he dropped away so much as a Test bowler that he could not be entrusted with the role of the sole paceman in the attack?

His bowling average was only below 50 when he made his debut Test in 2009. Since his fifth Test in February 2010, his bowling average has never gone below 71.22. From the time of his Test debut, he has missed nine Tests including the one in Fatullah.

Shane Jurgensen, the former Bangladesh coach under whom Rubel played eight Tests, believes the pace bowler had been misused at times by being asked to do much on his own in attacks that weren't as balanced as Bangladesh's ODI line-up. Jurgensen said inconsistency has dogged Rubel, too.

"I truly believe that he is a bit of a victim and has been dealt with some unlucky decisions around him," Jurgensen said. "For example, on low slow flat pitches, like in Bangladesh, you need a team of bowlers constantly peppering away at oppositions. There is absolutely no doubt that he has all the attributes that Bangladesh need: pace, unique action for reverse swing, etc.

"There have been times when there are only two quicks and two spinners, and part-times to bolster the batting, but then the other quick may get injured and then it's only Rubel. Therefore teams just sit on him. In ODI cricket, the Bangladesh bowling line-up is more balanced at times and oppositions are looking to score runs. In Tests, batters are looking to bat for long periods and then build partnerships and capitalise with runs as a result of the hard work.

"Therefore I think at times consistency has been an issue for Rubel. He will have really good spells where he beats the bat and then the next spell at times can be inconsistent in line and length. I think also maybe there has been a misunderstanding around his role in Test cricket. He wants to run in and bowl fast, be the enforcer. But again on slow and low wickets, is that the best option?"

Jurgensen also believes Rubel's preference for bowling at full tilt for too long has had an uninvited effect on his bowling action. "If he bowls effort balls or every ball is at 100%, it will then affect his technique. He will tend to fall away quicker in his action and at release, and, therefore, he will struggle to bowl outswingers or hit the seam consistently and in the end, drop short in length. And this length will tend to be a length that will beat the bat, which he will do at times, but not actually get the nicks to the keeper, slips or LBW.

"I just wonder whether, as he matures, at times (it will) be best to pull back on pace, say four out of six balls an over and get his action consistent to have a more consistent release position for the seam. He will also get more bounce and then use his extra pace or effort ball when he needs to, tactically."

The mention of his action falling away brings to memory Rubel's early bowling action, a slingy one, that he began to lose after 2010 due to various injuries and coaching influences. That action had initially got him noticed in 2007. He was first spotted in a pace-bowling programme by coach Sarwar Imran and brought to the Bangladesh nets to help the batsmen prepare for Lasith Malinga during that year's tour to Sri Lanka. The following year, Bangladesh's new bowling coach Champaka Ramanayake, who discovered Malinga, took a liking to to the Bangladesh pacer, and stated that Rubel would be the side's next bowling leader.

"He (Rubel) is an amazing talent. A rare bowler who can bowl at 140kmph and above," Ramanayake said in November 2008. "He is a very exciting talent and one of the guys I am very, very keen to see progress."

Nearly three years later, during the 2011 World Cup, Ramanayake, then Sri Lanka's bowling coach, was shocked to see the changes in Rubel's action, which had been made in an effort to increase pace.

"He always had pace, why does he need more?" Ramanayake told the Prothom Alo. "I was happy with his pace. He needs control and variety. Since most matches are played on dead wickets, he needs skills more than speed. I discovered Malinga but did I change his action? He has been bowling the same way as he did since he was a kid. His main weapon is not bowling 140-145k but his variety - reverse swing, slower ball. If Rubel can muster these skills, I can say that he can become one of the best in the world."

Confusion over his role in the bowling attack, and changes to his natural bowling action were issues noted by two of his bowling coaches. These did not affect the selectors and team management's confidence in him, but he wasn't seen as a bowling leader. Bangladesh have given debuts to six specialist pace bowlers since Rubel's first appearance. Of these bowlers, Robiul Islam has played the most Tests but remains on the fringes of selection.

Shafiul has been more of a one-day operator, and his effectiveness and an average of 50.53 in eight Tests say much about this unfulfilled talent. He is also injury-prone. Abul Hasan had a long injury lay-off between early 2013 and late last year, but even when he is fit, he has been unable to replicate his domestic form in the international arena. Al-Amin Hossain has also been kept away from the team since his abrupt return from the World Cup. He and Robiul were seen bowling in Bangladesh's nets in Fatullah ahead of the India Test and they looked far more incisive than the pacers in the 14-man squad.

Like many Bangladesh players who are regulars in the senior side, Rubel has played very few domestic first-class matches. He has had very little time to do so. In an eight-year playing career, 23 of Rubel's 40 first-class matches are Tests, with only eight domestic first-class matches, in which he has taken 16 wickets at an average of 45.06.

Rubel's debut Test was Masharfe Mortaza's last before he prematurely stopped playing the format and Rubel should have taken up the bowling leader's role. Instead, his career has been a case in the misfortune of injuries, the loss of a natural action and lack of bowling volume. It is rather unfortunate that all this has happened when he has never been too far away from Bangladesh's best coaches and facilities.