| Player: | Mashrafe Mortaza |
The most remarkable thing about young Mashrafe Mortaza was the price he was bought for. Carded at $50,000, he finally was bought for $600,000 by Kolkata Knight Riders, a phenomenal 12-fold increase which left most wondering what was the Mashrafe Magic.
He has emerged as the leader of Bangladesh's pack of young pacemen, although fitness remains a problem. He made great strides under the tutelage of Andy Roberts, working on his stamina, and he was given his first Test cap against Zimbabwe at Dhaka in 2001-02, in what was his first-class debut - indeed by mid-2006 he had played only seven first-class matches outside the Test arena. He excelled in the second Test against England in 2003-04, taking 4 for 60 in the first innings to keep Bangladesh in touch, but suffered a twisted knee towards the end of the game that kept him out of Tests for over a year. He was recalled towards the end of 2004, and subsequently enhanced his reputation on the inaugural tour of England, standing head and shoulders above his team-mates in a torrid series. He is not a complete mug with the bat. Although he's still Bangladesh's spearhead, he has often struggled to maintain the intensity and stamina after starting a good spell. At his peak, he can be a match-winner, like when his 4 for 44 set up Bangladesh's maiden ODI win against New Zealand in 2008.