Once in a while, memories flash like a bulb. It could be an incident or an event that takes you on a trip down memory lane. While witnessing Litton Das’ stroke-filled, game-breaking hundred against Pakistan, some recollections from his debut Test against India flooded back. The simple reason was the wonderful exhibition of stroke-play that was on display, in both innings.
In the one-off Test in Fatullah, Litton had slog-swept and danced down the wicket while facing the spin duo of R Ashwin and Harbhajan Singh. Among all those eye-catching shots, there was one stroke which exemplified the young batter’s chutzpah and burgeoning potential – Litton smashing a pull off Varun Aaron off the front foot, where he seemed to have a little bit of extra time. Now, Aaron won’t go down into history brooks as one of the greats of the game. But he never compromised on pace.
Some nine years after Litton earned his maiden Test cap, he provided ample evidence of possessing that extra time. When Khurram Shahzad and Mir Hamza bowled it a touch shorter, Litton neatly opened the bat face and guided it via the third man region. The salient feature of that stroke was his ability to play late and negate the threat of the moving ball. Even when Litton cracked straight drives and flicks, he allowed the ball to come to him.
Litton said this about coming out to bat at 26 for 5 in the first dig of the second Test against Pakistan: “I never thought I would have to bat before the drinks break. I was a bit nervous. We told each other that since Pakistan had the momentum at that moment, let’s take our time and see what happens. Both Miraz and I were new at the crease. The new ball was still on, so it was challenging. We wanted to drag the game and possibly get the momentum back on our side. Credit goes to Miraz for taking the initiative. I was struggling with the hand injury, but his early boundaries gave us rhythm.
“I enjoyed batting with him (Mehidy). He is always positive. We discussed how to score in that situation. I know we were on the back foot, but that’s when opportunities arise. If you’re a big player, you have to seize those opportunities.”
There is one notable difference between a young Litton and the current version, who batted in Rawalpindi. In the past, he was criticised for losing his concentration and gifting his wicket away on a platter. Gradually, Litton seems to have understood his game better and has based his game on the old maxim – play each ball on its merit.
Litton’s numbers since the start of 2021 also confirm his growth as a Test cricketer. The wicketkeeper-bat averages 46.05 and has 1,796 runs to his name during this period. Remarkably, all his four Test centuries have come in that period. It includes a hundred in Christchurch, against the likes of Neil Wagner, Tim Southee, Trent Boult and Kyle Jamieson.
Litton will be 30 this year. There is a school of thought that a batter touches his peak around that age. At present, he averages a tad below 37 in the longest format but there is no doubt that he has the skill-set and technique to ramp it up to over 40. Even if he doesn’t, Litton’s heroics at Rawalpindi will be written with an indelible ink; a knock that didn’t just help Bangladesh to prop up their innings but also clinch a historic Test series.