Friday, April 26, 2024
Jake Lintott, the English left arm wrist spinner is awestruck by the presence of global T20 stars like Shakib Al Hasan, Chris Gayle and Dwayne Bravo in the Fortune Barishal team where he is playing in this season’s Bangabandhu Bangladesh Premier League.
This is Lintott’s first trip to Bangladesh and the Englishman spoke about his experience of sharing the same dressing room with Shakib, Gayle and Bravo, along with his unique culinary adventure.
“The experience has been really good; I’ve loved every second of it so far. I heard mixed things about Bangladesh before coming, obviously there are a few things that are quite alien to us Englishman but I’m just trying to soak it up and enjoy it. It’s been really refreshing to see people so passionate about cricket,” Lintott said.
It wasn’t just the level of excitement created by the BPL that surprised Lintott. Bangladeshi food has also caught him unaware.
“I ordered Szechuan chicken on my third night, I asked for a small amount of spice but it still took the roof of my mouth off!” he exclaimed.
The Englishman’s involvement in the BPL came about after a direct request from Shakib to Lintott’s agent.
“Shakib made it known that he was really interested in having me onboard. He’d seen what I’d been doing in the Hundred and CPL,” Lintott said.
The Bangladesh star-all-rounder has clearly made a big impression on Lintott, “he’s been brilliant since I got here, very welcoming, a really nice guy. I’ve sat behind him on the team coach, he’s recognised by every single person, it’s incredible”.
The wrist spinner expressed his desire to learn from the legends of T20 cricket in the Fortune Barishal team.
“The way Chris (Gayle), Dwayne (Bravo) and Shakib play, it’s with so much calmness, they are very relaxed and confident. I’m privileged to have the opportunity to learn from them”.
Despite the calming influence of the seniors in the side, Lintott confessed to being anxious before the very first game of the tournament.
“I was pretty nervous, but I settled quite quickly”.
With regard to the BPL itself, Lintott is a fan of the tournament schedule.
“I like the tournament being played in a 4-week block; it allows people to focus all of their time on one thing. If you get on a roll (winning games) in can be brilliant”.
The benefits of having a left arm spinner in the team, a rarity in Bangladesh cricket, is something that hasn’t escaped Lintott.
“I am different, I’ve noticed already that batters seem a bit unnerved, they are not quite sure what to do”.
Lintott has tried to use his spare time wisely, while being in bio bubbles, one of his hobbies is learning to play the guitar.
“My coach in England is a guitarist and is helping me with lessons. I just wanted to learn; the long-term goal is to play the guitar in the dressing room after a win”.
In terms of his personal ambition, despite a relatively late start in professional cricket, Lintott feels that representing England is achievable.
“I believe I can do it. I’ve proven in big tournaments I can perform, maybe there will be an opportunity for another wrist spinner in the England squad, let’s see”.
The writer is a freelance Journalist from the UK. He writes for the Sight Screen Cricket Journal.
