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Everything you need to know about Manchester United's Argentine centre-back Lisandro Martinez.

Lisandro Martinez is a young and talented football player from Argentina who has quickly established himself as a key player for both Ajax Amsterdam and the Argentina national team. Born on January 18, 1998, in Gualeguay, a small city in the province of Entre Rios, Martinez started playing football at a young age and quickly caught the attention of local scouts. He began his youth career at Club Atletico Gualeguay before moving to Club Atletico Newell's Old Boys in Rosario, Argentina.

At Newell's Old Boys, Martinez quickly made a name for himself as a versatile and technically gifted player. He made his professional debut for the team in 2017 and quickly established himself as a regular starter, impressing with his composure on the ball, his physicality, and his ability to read the game.

In July 2019, after just two seasons with Newell's Old Boys, Martinez was signed by Ajax Amsterdam. He quickly adapted to his new surroundings, impressing with his performances in pre-season and establishing himself as a regular starter in the team.

During his first season with Ajax, Martinez played an important role in the team's success, helping them to win the Eredivisie title and reach the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League. He continued his strong performances in the 2020-21 season and helped Ajax to another league title. Martinez's performances were recognized with a call-up to the Argentina national team, where he made his debut in a friendly match against Chile in June 2021.

Martinez's time at Ajax attracted interest from other top clubs in Europe, and he reunited with Erik ten Hag, former Ajax manager, at Manchester United in the summer of 2022, for a reported transfer fee of between £47 million to £49 million, plus £8.5 million in add-ons. He has since won the Carabao Cup with the Red Devils.

Martinez is a talented and versatile football player who has quickly established himself as one of the most assured ball-playing central defenders in the world.

Here are 11 interesting facts about Martinez that you absolutely need to know.

Family matters

Martinez is a family man. He is very close with his parents, including his grandparents. Raul Martinez and Silvina Cabrera, his mother, have always supported him throughout his career. Martinez is closer to his mother, who has been present through all his career achievements. Furthermore, Martinez also has a little sister to whom he serves as godfather.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesNickname at Ajax

Man United’s centre-back inherited the nickname of ‘The Butcher of Amsterdam’ during his time at Ajax.

The Argentine centre-back revealed the reason behind his nickname. “I am called the Canisero – the Butcher of Amsterdam," he told NOS (via Mirror)

“We Argentines do everything with passion – and when I go out on the pitch I fight for every ball. In Argentina, not everyone is brought up with enough resources. Sometimes you can't even eat. As a child I suffered from hunger. When I step on the pitch I think back on the times I couldn't even buy shoes. This is why we are so combative. Argentinians kill to win. If I have to step over dead bodies I do it. I want to win every 50-50 situation because I know that I am fighting for food for every member of my family and for my friends."

“That is the feeling I have – and every Argentinian has. It is the kind of motivation I cannot explain.”

GettyPitbull in Argentina

Now, this is a name that Martinez has got behind. He is called a “pitbull” in his native country. Speaking about the nickname, Martinez said, “In Argentina, they called me The Pitbull. That covers my playing style better. I bite into my opponent.”

He can be seen snarling at opposition attackers and forces them into giving up possession as much as possible.

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Tough start at Ajax

The 25-year-old central defender established himself as one of the best players in the world but life at Ajax was not always what glitters for the Argentine.

According to a statement given in an interview with La Nacion (via SkySports), “In the first three weeks, I had a miserable time. It was totally different. At first, I wanted to go home and cry. I felt bad. I’m a player who likes to have the ball, but when they got me into one or two quick touches, they killed me. It was amazing how off pace I was to everything."

Barcelona's teenage midfielder has made history for his country, following in the footsteps of some of the game's greatest players

Wayne Rooney

Wayne Rooney is widely regarded as one of the finest players in English football history, having finished his international career with a record 53 goals to his name from 120 appearances.

His journey began in 2003, when he became the youngest player to ever represent the Three Lions at the age of 17 years and 111 days after coming off the bench in a friendly clash with Australia.

Rooney went on to break the record for England's youngest scorer later that year, firing home in a European Championship qualifier against Macedonia.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesTheo Walcott

Theo Walcott's first taste of senior international football came when he received a surprise call up to Sven-Goran Eriksson's England squad for the 2006 World Cup.

The former Southampton and Arsenal winger made his debut in a pre-tournament friendly against Hungary, breaking Rooney's record as the youngest player to ever feature for the Three Lions at the age of 17 years and 75 days.

Walcott ended up being an unused substitute throughout that World Cup but did go on to win 47 caps for his country, scoring eight goals while also appearing at Euro 2012.

Giovanni Reyna

The man who finished third in Goal's 2021 NxGn list has enjoyed a meteoric rise to prominence since joining Borussia Dortmund's academy ranks in 2019.

Reyna had already represented the United States at U15, U16 and U17 level by that stage, and didn't take long to earn a place in the senior setup.

The midfielder was rewarded for his performances for Dortmund with a USMNT call up in November 2020, and took his international bow the day before his 18th birthday in a 0-0 friendly draw against Wales.

Reyna has since recorded four goals in nine games for his country, with his next outing likely to come when Gregg Berhalter's side resume their 2022 World Cup qualifying campaign against Jamaica on Friday.

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Getty ImagesPaulo Futre

Portugal have boasted many world-class players during their history, from legends such as Eusebio to modern-day greats like Cristiano Ronaldo.

Paulo Futre was among those to make his mark for the southern European nation, as he initially became the youngest player in their history when making his international debut in April 1983.

The ex-Sporting CP and Atletico Madrid winger played 41 times for Portugal across his 12-year international career, scoring six goals, and appeared at the 1986 World Cup in Mexico.

Which of the continent’s players still featuring in the UCL has the best chance of winning it?

Getty Images7Adel Taarabt

Benfica are the dark horses in the Champions League, but cannot be underestimated after eliminating Ajax in the Round of 16.

One-time wonderkid Taarabt, now reinvented as a central midfielder, remains a glittering talent on his day, and is enjoying a late-career revival at Benfica even if he’s dropped out of the international reckoning.

After his previous stints with Tottenham Hotspur, AC Milan and Queen’s Park Rangers, Benfica’s showdown with Liverpool may be the biggest match of his career.

AdvertisementGetty6Samuel Chukwueze

The last Nigerian still standing in the Champions League, Chukwueze won’t be going to the World Cup, but will surely be targeting another European trophy this season after last year’s Europa League triumph.

They have to get past Bayern Munich next, but after eliminating Juventus in the last round, the Yellow Submarine will fear no one as they look to reach the final four.

Chukwueze has had a limited impact in the UCL so far this season—starting just one match—although he could still have a big role to play during the latter stages.

Getty Images5Geoffrey Kondogbia

Atletico Madrid certainly have their work cut out against Manchester City, but could Diego Simeone be the man who inflicts the latest UCL heartbreak on Pep Guardiola?

Certainly, the Spanish giants have the resources to frustrate the Prem leaders, not to mention experience of reaching the Champions League final.

Kondogbia will have a major role to play in the heart of the park, having established himself as a key player at Atleti, while Mozambique’s Reinildo has settled quickly since signing from LOSC Lille in January.

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Getty.4Edouard Mendy & Hakim Ziyech

Chelsea will need to improve dramatically this week following Saturday’s humbling at home against Brentford.

The 4-1 loss was one of the low points of Thomas Tuchel’s time in charge of the Blues, where various failings were exposed against their lowly local rivals.

It was a game to forget for Mendy, who was defended by Tuchel after the match, while Ziyech was one of the West Londoners’ better performers during a tricky outing.

The German coach will be expecting from a big response from all of his team when they face Real Madrid on Wednesday.

Afghanistan reinvigorated their hopes of qualifying for the main round of the Asia Cup T20 with a thrilling three-wicket win over Oman in Fatullah on Saturday

ESPNcricinfo staff20-Feb-2016
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsFile photo: Dawlat Zadran’s twin sixes in the last over helped Afghanistan seal their first win in the Asia Cup T20 qualifiers•Chris WhiteoakAfghanistan reinvigorated their hopes of qualifying for the main round of the Asia Cup T20 with a thrilling three-wicket win over Oman in Fatullah on Saturday. The star of the show was Dawlat Zadran, who clubbed two consecutive sixes in the final over bowled by left-arm spinner Ajay Lalcheta as Afghanistan chased down 166 with three balls to spare.Oman, seeking a repeat of their performance over Hong Kong, opted to bat and were powered by the opening combine of Zeeshan Maqsood (52) and Jatinder Singh (23). Adnan Ilyas, the No. 3 batsman, built on the firm base to score an enterprising 27-ball 54 comprising three fours and four sixes. But his dismissal in the 17th over proved to be the difference between where Oman eventually finished and where they would have liked to finish. Gulbadin Naib, the medium-pacer, was the most economical, picking two wickets and conceding just 24 runs off his full quota.For the second successive night, Mohammad Shahzad fell inside the second over as Afghanistan slipped right at the start of their chase. That Afghanistan got into a position from where they could chase down the target was largely due to Noor Ali Zadran, whose quickfire start allowed the middle-order batsmen to settle in. Noor Ali’s second-wicket stand of 54 off just 4.4 overs with Asghar Stanikzai, the captain, helped them steer clear of the asking rate.But the dismissals of Stanikzai and Karim Sadiq, the top-scorer in their loss to United Arab Emirates on Friday, threw a spanner in their works courtesy Mehran Khan as Afghanistan slipped to 60 for 3. The medium-pacer added the scalp of Mohammad Nabi to his kitty soon after to leave Afghanistan wobbly even before they had wiped out half the target.Najibullah Zadran set about repairing the innings, conjuring a 21-ball 23. In doing so, he ensured a lower-order collapse was averted, and more importantly, brought the difference between runs and balls to just three going into the last four overs. But there appeared to be another twist as Bilal Khan trapped Najibullah and Noor Ali lbw within three deliveries in the 17th over.With 21 needed off the last two overs, Samiullah Shenwari, who was left out of their tournament opener, hit two successive fours to ease the pressure, taking the game into the final over with 10 needed. After having nearly taken them home, Shenwari holed out to long-on with five balls to play. The scene was set for one of Lalcheta or Dawlat to be a hero. On the night, it was Dawlat’s ice-cool veins that prevailed in a tense clash.

Disappointing levels of spectator “graduation” from T20 to international cricket are a major reason for CA’s decision to significantly cut prices for Test and limited-overs matches ahead of the next summer

Daniel Brettig27-Apr-2016A growing number of people sated by the Twenty20 entree have compelled Cricket Australia to go back to work on the main course. Disappointing levels of spectator “graduation” from T20 to international cricket were a major reason for CA’s decision to significantly cut prices for Test and limited-overs matches ahead of the next summer.A review of ticket pricing and availability was undertaken by CA’s commercial department after a series of disappointing international crowds at various points of the past two summers, a trend in direct contrast to the burgeoning attendances for the Big Bash League.Cricket Australia’s tickets review

Extensive consultation process internally

Comprehensive review of ticket prices from other sporting and major entertainment events

Market research involving surveying a representative sample of people across Australia to assess propensity to attend cricket at different price points

Referred to learnings from other cricket events, including the 2015 World Cup and BBL

Ever since the BBL was ushered into existence at the Australian Cricket Conference in 2010, CA and its chief executive James Sutherland have maintained that the tournament was designed to bring new fans to the game who would ultimately take on a love for Tests and ODIs.However, a call to cut prices significantly – each state will offer general admission tickets at a mere $30 for adults while also scaling back the cost of higher grade reserve seats – has been made out of concern that the BBL’s growth has not caused the sort of “trickle-up” effect CA had hoped for.This is largely because while BBL tickets have been kept affordable – general admission tickets around $20 for adults – despite their popularity, international pricing has reflected an era before the emergence of the T20 competition. This has resulted in vast swathes of empty seats at matches where spectators could be hard pressed to find anything for under $50. Sutherland said the BBL’s success had helped encourage a rethink.”Clearly the reason why we’re breaking records in terms of aggregate attendance is off the back of BBL growth in attendance,” Sutherland said when announcing the price changes. “More people attended the BBL last year than attended the World Cup. Over a million people came through the gates to attend BBL cricket.”International cricket is still really strongly supported. And part of our strategy has been for us to bring new people to the game, through BBL cricket and at the same time graduate their interest into international cricket. And part of our pricing review and our research has been with that in mind, to continue to graduate that interest … into the premium form, being international cricket.”I think we’ve learned a lot from the BBL and I think we’ve taken some of the best parts of that and incorporated that into the review. But it’s also a lot about positioning and ensuring that international cricket is the premium format and we continue to bring the best possible teams into the country to play the game, play international cricket over those three formats.”Since selling the BBL to free-to-air television where it has been a major success for Network Ten, CA has faced a balancing act between its two broadcasters. Nine has been synonymous with the game in Australia for nearly 40 years, and the need to build a more compelling international television spectacle has also played a part – it is felt that empty grounds discourage viewers from tuning in.”Certainly our focus is to get as many people into our grounds as possible – we make no bones about the fact that our desired state is full grounds,” Sutherland said. “We face challenges from time to time, certainly with Test cricket to get people into grounds when people have work commitments and kids are still at school but there’s lots of different ways in which we are trying to change that.”Obviously day-night Test cricket is one of the things but also this pricing strategy is taking a lot of those things into account as well. The backdrop for television is always something that looks better. From our perspective the whole thing is greater fan engagement.”Another factor in the pricing changes is the unknown about how much more the BBL can continue to grow. Recent downturns in T20 competitions in England and India’s IPL have suggested that the more youthful Australian tournament cannot be expected to keep building at its current rate.”We don’t see ourselves as a competitor with IPL. We’ve been very, very focussed with BBL as something which is tailored to the Australian market,” Sutherland said. “Coming off the trajectory we’ve had, it’s going to be always challenging to maintain that growth. To some extent it will be cyclical.”But at the same time we lift our sights high in terms of our aspirations with BBL and see no reason why we can’t continue. We’ll continue to develop our event presentation to ensure those who pay good money to come and watch the cricket are entertained, not just when the cricket is being played but in other aspects of what’s offered at venues.”

Alastair Cook became England’s highest Test runscorer, overhauling Graham Gooch, when he reached 32 against New Zealand in the second Investec Test at Headingley

George Dobell at Headingley30-May-20153:43

Top 5 Test innings: Alastair Cook

Alastair Cook has overtaken his mentor and coach Graham Gooch to become the highest run-scorer for England in Test cricket.Cook required 31 runs to draw equal with Gooch’s record of 8,900 runs and, with a restrained drive to the cover boundary off Tim Southee, he passed the man who he has coached him, first with Essex and then with England, since he was 18 years old.Before the Headingley Test, he insisted that by his reckoning Gooch remained unsurpassed as the finest England Test batsman in history.Highlights of Cook’s career include scoring a century on debut (in Nagpur in 2006), plundering 766 runs in seven innings in the 2010-11 Ashes series, hitting three centuries in successive Tests to help England to a series victory in India in 2012 and becoming the second-youngest man – after Sachin Tendulkar – to make 5,000 Test runs.While he endured a grim run of form throughout much of 2013 and 2014, Cook has also made more Test centuries – 27 – than any England player and averages a fraction under 47. Doubts about his prowess as a tactical captain may remain, but he is a respected leader and his place among the greats of England batsmen is assured.Perhaps the most remarkable aspect of Cook’s new record is his relative youth. Gooch, also an Essex and England opening batsman, was 41 by the time he finished playing Test cricket; Cook is just 30 and could have some of the best years of his career ahead of him.Cook’s record – achieved in the same match in which James Anderson became the first England bowler to claim 400 Test wickets – is partially a reflection of the packed international schedule in the modern era which sees far more Test matches staged.He has already played 114 matches in a nine-year Test career that started in Nagpur in 2006, while Gooch managed 118 in a career that was interrupted by a three-year ban for going on a rebel tour to South Africa in the early 1980s.Twelve men from other nations have scored more Test runs than Cook. But few of them are still playing and, given Cook’s age and continued fitness, he could reach the top of the list by the end of his career.

Touring India, assuredly, is much more than Phil Tufnell’s poverty and elephants

Glenn Turner27-Apr-2015Touring India, assuredly, is much more than Phil Tufnell’s poverty and elephants. Newcomers must adjust not only to a country of vast contrasts and stunning diversity but also to pitches and match atmospheres unlike any other in the world. In the third of the My India Tour series, Glenn Turner, the New Zealand opener, talks about his special memories from the 1969-70 tour of India.It’s a pity that we have to talk about the cricket – on my tour to India many other interesting things happened that would play a big part in my future life.When I first toured India in 1969-70, I was an impressionable youngster. My batting position was shuffled time and again: first I was asked to bat up the order to see the shine off the new ball before the spinners arrived – and that usually took four overs. Then, in the series-decider at Hyderabad, the team management sent me as low as No. 10, which I thought was ridiculous. We were charging to victory in that match when rains arrived on the final day. As soon as the weather cleared, the players joined the ground staff in trying to dry the field: women were lifting water in buckets, men were trying to use clothes to soak up the wicket. Graham Dowling wanted us to lend a helping hand to expedite things, but I was frustrated and refused to help as the damage was done. Being young I was just angry at the situation.I leant quite a bit from that tour, though. New Zealand were treated as a secondary team in those days, unlike the English and the Australians who were given first-class status. We stayed at the grounds, not in luxury hotels, and the timing of the series – in the middle of September, when most of the country was in the throes of the monsoons – illustrates the point that a tour by New Zealand’s cricketers wasn’t a high-priority event. By playing that early in the season when the rains were still around, there was no time for the soil to bind well, which meant that the pitches would not be firm enough. However, we were happy with our performances on that twin tour to the subcontinent: after beating Pakistan 1-0 we almost beat India 2-1.Personally, that tour had plenty of significance for me as I met Sukhinder Kaur, my would-be wife, at a social function one evening during the Bombay Test. She was studying at the University, and it was pretty difficult for two young people – especially a female – to socialise during those days.Actually we were supposed to move to Ahmedabad, the venue for the first Test, but due to riots there the match was shifted to Bombay, which meant that we ended up spending 21 days in Bombay. That gave me ample time to explore the locales and the surroundings.We lost that Bombay Test – the Indian spinners capitalised on the innocence of our batsmen against slow bowling. During those amateur days there was no one to coach the players, so it was left to the player himself to sort things out. I was lucky in the sense that I was already playing for Worcestershire, which gave me some exposure to different types of pitches.Also our allowance in those days was a pittance- it wasn’t even sufficient to buy a bottle of beer. We couldn’t buy beer in Bombay anyway as it was a dry region. And in those days beer in India was far less palatable than it is today.The tour also gave me the opportunity to spot two youngsters who would excel in future: Sunil Gavaskar, who played for the Universities, and Vishy[Gundappa Vishwanath], who represented the Board President’s XI.Glenn Turner was speaking to Nagraj Gollapudi.Other
‘The dinner service was all gold’ – John Reid’s tour in 1955-56.
‘You could score a hundred if you keep your head down’ – Bruce Taylor’s tour in 1964-65.
‘It was like a sauna’ – Richard Hadlee’s tour in 1976-77.

Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Amir has signed a contract with Karachi-based Omar Associates to play grade-II cricket from March 9

ESPNcricinfo staff03-Feb-2015Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Amir has signed a contract with Karachi-based Omar Associates to play grade-II cricket from March 9. He was recently allowed by the ICC to play domestic cricket under the auspices of the PCB though he continues to be banned from featuring in international cricket until September 2.There were many teams around the circuit keen to hire Amir, with KESC and KPT the top names in the country, but he finally struck a deal with the private firm, which deals in construction and property. “We have signed Amir to play for our team in Grade-II as we think that everybody deserves a second chance in life and career,” said Nadeem Omar, chief of Omar Associates. “We have signed Amir because he has fulfilled everything which was required of him and the ICC and the Pakistan Cricket Board cleared him.”As per the revised anti-corruption code, banned players can be allowed to return to domestic cricket before the end of their penalty if they meet certain criteria. In the last four years, Amir has completed an Anti Corruption and Security Unit education program with the PCB, showed a high degree of remorse in public, and reportedly disclosed relevant information to the PCB as well as the anti-corruption units.With the Pakistan first-class and one-day domestic season about to finish, Amir’s only chance of competitive cricket before it starts again in October would be a possible return in the Super Eight T20 Cup, which takes place after the World Cup. He was left with no option for now but to play grade-II to regain his fitness and rhythm.Amir has been playing for various unregistered clubs and academies in Lahore and Rawalpindi since being banned from playing competitive cricket in 2010. His appearance for Omar Associates will be the first time he will feature in grade cricket in the last four-and-a-half years.

Brendon McCullum’s second IPL century, his first for Chennai Super Kings, set up a big second win for the hosts

The Report by Sidharth Monga11-Apr-2015
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
3:45

Star of the Match: Brendon McCullum

Brendon McCullum’s second IPL century, his first for Chennai Super Kings, set up a big second win for the hosts. His 100 not out off 56 balls featured hits into the deserted disputed stands of MA Chidambram Stadium, two ramps for sixes over the keeper’s head, and scarcely believable reverse-pull to take him to 99 after IPL debutant Trent Boult saw he had shaped up for the ramp and bowled a slower bouncer. McCullum was helped along by a domineering 53 off 29 from MS Dhoni, who was more at home coming in at 135 for 2.Even through David Warner scored a fifty, Sunrisers Hyderabad never really got going against the Super Kings bowlers, who used the variable bounce to their advantage showing up a pretty insipid bowling effort from the visitors. Then again when McCullum is going hard at you, it is not easy to stick to your plans. He drove for four the second ball he faced, and his intent meant the Sunrisers bowlers forgot about using the new ball and the bounce. They were forced to bowl yorkers early in the piece, and with no wickets taken in the first four the others were under pressure too.Ishant Sharma made a good start, but he bowled four no-balls, which ruined his figures. Two of the free hits went for sixes, one for four, and the fourth for a single. Take the 17 runs off his figures and his three overs for 29 look decent. Boult, chosen ahead of Dale Steyn, was neutralised by the immense pressure the openers put him under. Karn Sharma’s flat legbreaks were now just cannon fodder.Ravi Bopara, chosen ahead of Eoin Morgan, slowed them down a little with two tight overs that also featured two run-outs. Dhoni, not in the best of touches, promoted himself and prodded along to 4 off 8. This was a moment where Sunrisers would have fancied coming back in. In the next over McCullum cut Bopara in the air, but sent it in front of square because of the slow pace. The other IPL debutant, Kane Williamson, ran in from deep cover, but dropped him. That was the end of the mini comeback.Dhoni took almost all of the strike, and to devastating effect. The bowlers neither had the pace to bounce him nor the accuracy to bother him. Over the next 22 balls Dhoni added four sixes and four fours to eight sixes and six fours that McCullum had already hit. By the time he fell in the 20th over, Dhoni had taken Super Kings to 198, and had left McCullum four balls to go from 89 to 100. The first ball was taken by Jadeja, who was run out but managed to turn the strike over. McCullum then sent the first – a low full toss – over the keeper’s head, and then the slower bounce over short third man to reach 99. The single off the last ball brought the packed house to its feet. The few that weren’t already, that is.Super Kings bowled a lot of cutters and bouncers to exploit the abrasive surface. Shikhar Dhawan and KL Rahul both fell to slower balls from Mohit Sharma, Warner was kept quiet by the lack of pace on the ball, and Sunrisers showed they had got their plans wrong, sending Williamson to bat in the 15th over. He came in at the fall of Warner, who had just reached his fifty, and was the only hope with the asking rate having reached three runs a ball. There was going to be only one winner from thereon.

Bangladesh captain Mushfiqur Rahim said his team had shown signs of consistency and stability in their 3-0 series win over Zimbabwe

Mohammad Isam in Chittagong16-Nov-2014Bangladesh captain Mushfiqur Rahim said his team had shown signs of consistency and stability in their 3-0 series win over Zimbabwe, the first time they have swept a three-match Test series.The results came despite the fact that several players had been in poor form for most of the year. In the first Test in Mirpur, Taijul Islam took eight wickets during Zimbabwe’s second innings but Bangladesh had to sweat a bit before reaching the 101-run target. Khulna and Chittagong were relatively easier victories. Mushfiqur gave credit to the senior players like Shakib Al Hasan and Tamim Iqbal, who shone brightly with individual performances.”I can’t take too much credit,” Mushfiqur said. “The way our players performed throughout the series, any captain would have been in my position. It is a good sign. We won two Tests on the final day, which shows our character and the fact that we can play good cricket consistently.”We knew that if we executed properly, a 3-0 result was possible. It is nothing unbelievable as it was always going to be difficult to play spin in Bangladesh. All credit goes to the bowlers but the batsmen ensured they had the scoreboard pressure on their side. We knew that if everyone performed, the series would be ours. Ahead of the series we wanted the senior players to lead from the front. Riyad bhai [Mahmudullah], Shakib and Tamim have done well and the juniors were asked to enjoy the game.”Bangladesh had a nervy start on the fifth day, needing nine wickets on a pitch that offered very little to the bowlers. On the fourth evening too, Zimbabwe started off well, despite the early wicket. Mushfiqur bowled Taijul Islam and Shuvagata Hom, alongside his attacking options like Shakib and Jubair Hossain. The tactic worked on the fifth morning when Shuvagata took the first two wickets.”The first session was very important and their best batsmen [Hamilton Masakadza and Sikandar Raza] were at the crease. I knew that if we could take a wicket or two in the first half-hour, we could put them under pressure,” Mushfiqur said. “[Brendan] Taylor is a very good player but he hasn’t had a great time in the series, so we wanted him at the crease at the earliest. That’s how it happened and I am very happy about winning the last two Tests easily.”The way they were batting, we knew it was a matter of time. They were taking a lot of risks so I knew that they would get out any time. So we just waited to grab that opportunity. I had a lot of bowling options, so I used someone to attack. Whenever I needed a wicket, I tried to mix everyone and not just hold up one end.”Maybe right-handers have an easier time facing offspinners but on this wicket, they have to play every ball. It is slightly harder to play offspinners on such a wicket, we noticed last evening. We wanted to give him [Shuvagata] the bowling at the start, so that they can make a mistake while defending or attacking. Credit goes to Shuvagata Hom for creating pressure and taking two vital wickets. The pace bowlers also deserve a big thanks. Shafiul took two vital wickets in the first innings, and then Rubel took early wickets in both innings.”Shakib backed up his captain by saying that he didn’t feel bad not getting enough bowling, which also deprived him from taking 20 wickets in the series, in addition to his 251 runs.”There is nothing to feel bad. What if I didn’t get 17 wickets in the first two Tests? You need luck, which wasn’t there in this Test so it didn’t happen,” Shakib said. “If it did happen I would have felt good but I don’t think about it now.”It feels good obviously that I managed to contribute for the team. I was satisfied with my performance. I could have perhaps batted better, but, on the whole, I was very satisfied with this series.”Bangladesh have leap-frogged Zimbabwe into ninth position in the ICC Test rankings, but have never won a series in Zimbabwe. Mushfiqur was finally asked if the 3-0 result at home was a fair reflection of the two teams’ position and distance from each other.”In our conditions, definitely [it is a fair reflection],” the Bangladesh captain said. “Except for that one hour in the first Test, I never thought they had the upper hand over us. Maybe sessions ended evenly but they were never dominating. This is how we should play at home, and play consistently for five days against every opponent.”