'Innings against NZ gave me confidence that I belong at this level'

Whether Mahmudul Hasan Joy is going through a purple patch and is in the midst of a slump, a smile on his face has been a constant. So much that his childhood coach appropriately named him Hashi-Kushi - the Bengali reference to a person with full of life and joy.

Even if the smile ever left his face, it surely returned following a career-saving half-century he scored in the big win against Afghanistan in Dhaka. "I was always laughing and smiling in my early days and that is the reason Sir gave me the name Hashi-Khushi," Mahmudul told Cricbuzz.

Bangladesh's Test win was accentuated by Najmul Hossain's twin tons and Mominul Haque's first in the format after 26 innings while the fast bowlers too were instrumental in securing the big result. However, Mahmudul played a big role by seeing off the new ball in the first innings and made the most of the opportunity that came to him owing to an injury to Tamim Iqbal that ruled the senior batter out of the fixture.

Mahmudul (76) shared a 212-run stand with inform Najmul Hossain for the second wicket to guide Bangladesh to score 362-5 at stumps of day one after being asked to bat first.

"It was a bit tough as we didn't play in Mirpur on such type of a wicket. It was challenging for me and Shanto (Nazmul) bhai against the new ball on the opening day. Probably I was looking for boundaries and that was the problem because I tried to hurry it up and paid the price of getting impatient," he said. Yet, his performance from Day 1 impressed head coach Chandika Hathurusingha.

"We must give credit to Shanto (Najmul Hossain) for how he batted, and especially the first two hours (of the opening day) he and Joy... the way they batted calmed the nerves of everybody in the dressing room," Hathurusingha said following the win against Afghanistan.

"Joy showed good temperament the way he batted and his record also says that. If you look at his record he played nine Test matches and got a hundred away. [This was] another big fifty in away conditions. He can play at this level," he added.

The right-handed batsman, who came to the spotlight during the Under-19 World Cup, made his mark in the Test arena following a disappointing debut against Pakistan, and played a crucial role in their historic win against New Zealand at Mount Maunganui. He carried the confidence and notched a brilliant hundred against South Africa to write his name in the history books as he became the first Bangladesh batter to score a Test ton against South Africa at their home. Yet, he failed to retain his place in the playing XI against India at home.

Zakir Hasan made a brilliant century to seize the opportunity and he was given against India. When the left-hander was ruled out from the Test series against Ireland due to injury, the team management decided to promote Najmul up the order against Ireland - indicating that Mahmudul will have to do something special to make a comeback. Mahmudul forced the selectors to change their minds with his match-saving unbeaten century against West Indies A and he just carried the confidence against the Afghans.

"It is true that I didn't have a good start in my career (against Pakistan) but I did have the guts that I will play well against quality bowlers of New Zealand. I knew that I have to do well against them to take my career forward," he said. "I think that innings against New Zealand gave me confidence that I belong at this level and I carried that confidence to South Africa as well. Since I could score against quality bowlers in New Zealand, I can score runs there [South Africa] as well," he said.

"(Similarly) I was in the Bangladesh A team and after scoring the hundred against West Indies A I had the confidence because they had a good bowling attack and when you score runs against such an attack certainly it helps. Definitely that match against West Indies A where I scored a hundred gave me confidence because whenever you score a hundred, your confidence will get better. I was feeling better while going to bat against Afghanistan," he said.

"Probably that innings in the BPL where I scored a half century got me back into my groove as we won the game from a tricky situation. It was a huge confidence building innings for me," he added.

Mahmudul added that during the time he was not in the Test squad he worked on his backlift as he wanted it to be straighter and credited batting coach Jamie Siddons for helping him to make the technical adjustment.

"I worked on my backlift for quite some time and I followed certain drills to rectify the problem. I worked with Jamie [Siddons] and I am feeling good now with my new backlift. He (Jamie) just told me that the front leg shouldn't be much across, rather it would be good if the leg is straight and that is one area I worked on because it helped me to have a straighter backlift that is helping me to play more freely," he said.

Mahmudul has a lot of shots in his armoury but has preferred to play a patient game that keeps him in the middle for long periods. It is a ploy that serves his team well.

"Every player has a role in the team. I have been told that I should stay at the wicket and when the ball gets old it will help the middle-order. I just try to do that. I know that I can hit the ball and can change gears. Because I bat against new ball, the important thing for me is to get set because I know even if I have dot balls initially I can cover it up. I know I cannot play too many shots in Test cricket and I have to adjust, so I need to get set and later accelerate," he said.

Mahmudul returned to the international circuit after a year's gap knowing fully well that every chance coming his way needs to be seized if he intended to cement his place in the side again. For now, he's started well in that endeavour.