Debut pride for Tredwell

Off-spinner believes honours are even after day one

By Joe Drabble   Last updated: 20th March 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Debut pride for Tredwell

Tredwell celebrates in Dhaka

My parents always stuck by me in my youth and after several England tours of not actually featuring, it feels really good to get a go now.

James Tredwell
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England off-spinner James Tredwell spoke of his pride after being handed his Test debut against Bangladesh in Dhaka.

The Kent finger spinner capped his debut with two wickets on day one of the second Test as the hosts battled gamely to 330-8 at stumps.

Tredwell missed out on selection for the first Test in Chittagong but still managed to make an impression, taking a stunning catch at short mid-wicket off the only delivery he was on the pitch for as a substitute fielder.

And the 28-year-old, who claimed the key wicket of Tamim Iqbal (85) in Dhaka, was delighted to have finally been given an opportunity by the England selectors.

Impact

"That was certainly an all right catch but I was only on the field for one ball, so it's nice to spend the whole day out there," said Tredwell, who replaced batsman Michael Carberry in the tourists' XI. "I've got four more now to look forward to and a few more in the future hopefully.

"You do have that thought or fear that maybe it won't happen for you but when you've got a goal you try and stick to it and work towards it.

"My parents always stuck by me in my youth and after several England tours of not actually featuring, it feels really good to get a go now.

"It's a very proud moment. I'm probably not as proud for myself as for the number of people who helped me along the way.

"To play is a proud moment but to have an impact on the game is even prouder, and that hit me as the ball looped up (to dismiss Tamim)."

After winning the toss, bowling first, and watching England rack up 599-6 dec in Chittagong, Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan had no hesitation in batting first this time around.

And, on another lifeless pitch, the hosts cashed in courtesy of fine cameos from Tamim, Mahmudullah (59) and Shakib (49).

Giving his views on the day's play, Tredwell said: "Who's ahead? I'm going to say us, slightly but it's probably honours even.

"The wicket seems docile like the one in Chittagong and with the start Bangladesh had, we're happy to have them eight down at the close of play.

"It's going to be tough to get 20 wickets so to get eight on the first day is a decent effort.

"If we're honest we'd have liked to have them out for under 300, but after their start we're happy to have clawed it back."

Birthday gift

Tamim's swashbuckling 85 came off just 71 balls, however he was denied a century on his 21st birthday when he was adjudged to have gloved a sweep to Matt Prior off the bowling of Tredwell.

And, while he was disappointed not to cap the occasion with a well-earned century, he at least received a timely present from England captain Alastair Cook, who dropped him at mid-on on 11.

"Of course I am very disappointed - not just because of my birthday, but for the team, which is most important to me," he said.

"Someone needed to score 100 or 120 and I think if I could have played a big innings we would have scored 400 runs.

"The first chance I gave (edged over slip for four), I don't call that a chance because it was too high. The second, Cook, that one was a birthday gift, that's true, but I didn't tell him to drop it."

Tamim also put county sides on alert after declaring his interest in developing his game in England.

"It would be a great honour for me to go to England. I would love to go there," he said.

"But first I must keep scoring big runs in international cricket and the rest of these things will happen."