Sam Constas' Coaching Connection with Bangladesh's Tahmid Islam and Insights on His Experience

Australian cricketer Sam Constas has recently made headlines due to an incident involving Virat Kohli, but the 19-year-old opener has grabbed most of the attention following the Melbourne Test. His unexpected connection with Bangladesh's Tahmid Islam has now come to light, adding another layer to his growing profile.

Tahmid Islam, known for his batting prowess and ability to bowl leg spin, has been closely involved with Constas' coaching. Remarkably, Tahmid was the coach for Constas, which came as a surprise to many. Further adding intrigue is the fact that Chandika Hathurusingha, the former Bangladesh head coach, played a pivotal role in bringing Tahmid to Bangladesh. Hathurusingha, who had a deep emphasis on developing leg spinners, was the one who encouraged Tahmid to come to Bangladesh after noticing his potential.

In an interesting revelation, Tahmid shared details of his journey, mentioning how Hathurusingha spotted him during the 2015 World Cup when he was bowling leg spin in the nets of the Bangladesh team. It was this interaction that led to Tahmid’s eventual arrival in Bangladesh. He joined the Prime Bank Cricket Club in the 2017 Bangladesh Premier Division Cricket League, although he didn’t get a chance to play in the matches.

Speaking with journalists recently, Tahmid recalled the moment he was approached by Hathurusingha: "I was primarily an opening batsman, but I also bowled leg spin. He (Hathurusingha) said that I should come to Bangladesh and learn something new. He was very kind and helpful, and his advice meant a lot to me."

Reflecting on his time in Bangladesh, Tahmid described the experience as enriching, particularly in terms of adapting to the local conditions: "It was a great experience. I learned how to handle the extreme heat while practicing spin bowling. The conditions were tough, but it was an important learning experience."

Tahmid also expressed a strong desire to work with Bangladeshi cricketers in the future, saying, "If the opportunity arises, I would love to work privately with Bangladeshi cricketers. It would be a great learning opportunity for me, and I believe working in different conditions, with different coaches, and on different pitches will help me broaden my knowledge."

Tahmid's story offers a unique perspective on cross-border coaching and the ongoing exchange of cricketing wisdom between Australia and Bangladesh.