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ZeeaK 
Bangladesh batsman Mominul Haque appears to be a fundamentally changed player following the recently concluded Test series against Ireland. The left-hander, who struck three successive half-centuries, has replaced his past tendency to aggressively dominate from the outset with a newfound sense of control.
Mominul attributes this significant transformation to dedicated one-on-one sessions he undertook in Australia with former national head coach Chandika Hathurusingha prior to the Ireland series.
The Focus: Process Over Milestones
When discussing his habit of being dismissed after reaching the 80s—a trend that has marred his career despite scoring 25 half-centuries—Mominul insisted his focus remains on the fundamentals.
“As a batter, my goal is to play session by session, that is my only thought,” Mominul explained. “Close scores [like the 80s] sometimes happen in a career. I don’t focus on milestones because once you are in the middle, you are thinking about so many other things—how to handle the opposition bowler, what the conditions demand, and what specific plan you need. If you focus on the process and playing hour-by-hour, the milestones will follow. If you think about the outcome or the hundred beforehand, you won’t be consistent.”
He did admit that “nervousness” is a natural human emotion when one reaches the 90s, but maintained that external goals should not dictate batting intent.
IMAGE CREDIT : cricbuzz
The Mental Shift with Hathurusingha
Mominul detailed the unique nature of the specialized coaching he received in Sydney, distinguishing it from regular net sessions.
- Mental Blueprint: “The mental preparation has changed,” Mominul stated. “Hathurusingha taught me how to create a mental blueprint first. Before every practice, I now think about my weaknesses and what areas need the most work. This mental preparation is crucial.”
- Purpose-Based Practice: The sessions were not merely about hitting balls; they were situation-based and purpose-driven. Mominul practiced with different balls (Dukes, Kookaburra, SG) to understand how the ball behaves over 80 overs, noting that the mindset must adjust to these factors.
- Mindset Consistency: He confirmed that while the tactical decisions change based on conditions (Australia vs. India), the underlying mental preparation and focus remain the same.
The Challenge of Training at Home
Mominul took the significant decision to train abroad after becoming frustrated with the lack of adequate facilities and practice partners in Bangladesh.
“When I return to Bangladesh, we lack the necessary facilities. We don’t have pace bowlers of the same quality as the international bowlers I face away from home,” he lamented. “For those of us who play Test cricket, we only get top-quality pace bowling for two or three days before a series begins. You can’t improve yourself with only mental preparation; you need the connection between bat and ball and similar-quality bowlers to play against.”
He ultimately chose Hathurusingha because the coach understood the Asian cricketing psychology and their five-year history allowed for a deeper, personalized training approach. Mominul views his past disagreements with the coach as something that ultimately helped him improve his game.
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sources : cricbuzz
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