Come in spinner part of Bangladesh’s master plan

Bangladesh have revealed plans to put Black Caps aggressor Brendon McCullum in a spin in Hamilton on Friday.

McCullum, who boasts the tournament’s best strike rate with his bludgeoning efforts from the opener’s position, seems set to be confronted by slow bowling.

Bangladesh spin coach Ruwan Kalpage has hinted that the team may follow the lead of the 1992 New Zealand World Cup side who used offspinner Dipak Patel as a surprise opening bowler to huge effect, as they look at ways of countering McCullum’s blazing bat.

‘‘He hasn’t proven himself starting against spinners. It’ll be tough but we have plans for him,’’ Kalpage said. The teams meet in their final pool match at Seddon Park with both teams riding high on confidence. Bangladesh have arrived fresh off their stunning win over England, a result that put them through to their first world cup quarterfinal.

McCullum has ripped into pace attacks throughout the tournament but has shown some susceptibility to spin during his long career.

It’s clear Bangladesh want to try to exploit that, believing they can not only slow him down but remove him early.

After playing four of their five matches on the quicker Australian wickets, Kalpage, the former Sri Lankan off-spinner, believes spin will be effective on the slower Hamilton surface.

‘‘I’m pretty sure it will help the spinners,’’ he said of the pitch.

He has fond memories of the ground, taking his first ODI wickets for Sri Lanka there during the 1992 world cup, claiming the scalps of John Wright and Rod Latham in their match against New Zealand.

Bangladesh have plenty of spin options. Left-armer Shakib Al Hasan and off-spinner Mohammad Mahmudullah Riyad are their main spinners but Arafat Sunny, Nasir Hossain and Sabbir Rahman are also in the squad.

Kalpage acknowledged the threat of Daniel Vettori set to operate on his home ground, coming into the match with 12 wickets and the tournament’s best economy rate.