Radford's Technical Guidance Fuels Sediqullah Atal's Maiden Test Century Against Bangladesh

Sediqullah Atal made history by scoring 111 runs off 332 deliveries in Afghanistan's second innings during their one-off Test against Bangladesh. Played at the Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi from October 9-13, 2026, Atal's monumental effort saw him bat for over eight hours on the final day, helping Afghanistan reach 346 for 8 and secure a draw. His century, achieved off 277 balls and featuring eight fours and three sixes, marked his first in first-class cricket and the inaugural Test fourth-innings hundred by an Afghan batter.

Afghanistan's batting coach Toby Radford was instrumental in Atal's breakthrough, identifying and implementing key technical adjustments after the batter struggled in the first innings. Radford spent considerable time with Atal, primarily a white-ball cricketer, focusing intensely on improving his defence and positioning at the crease. The coaching specifically addressed Atal's weight distribution and footwork against various bowling types, contrasting sharply with his initial approach.

Radford noted a significant shift in Atal's technique during the second innings. “In the first innings, Sediq was playing at slightly wider deliveries and getting caught on the crease. Today (during the fifth day), he came further across with his guard and his head and weight were coming down the wicket - this helped him play straighter and to judge the off stump better. He left a lot of good deliveries,” Radford stated, as quoted by Cricbuzz. He further added that Atal "picked length well against the spinners and had a good stride forward and back," concluding that he is "at his best when his weight is coming down rather than across the wicket - he did that beautifully in this wonderful innings today.”

Afghanistan head coach Richard Pybus lauded Radford's precise technical guidance and Atal's personal determination for this success. Pybus highlighted Radford's skill in communicating complex coaching points effectively without overwhelming the player or interfering with his natural instincts. He acknowledged Atal's commitment, especially after a period of struggling form, saying, “I'm not going to claim any glory for that… all credit goes to Toby Radford and Sediq.” Pybus also noted that the team had faced challenges, stating, “we had some sessions where let it slip and then we had to play catch-up cricket.”

Pybus emphasized that Atal’s outstanding innings was a result of hard work and that he now needs to carry this confidence forward in his Test career. He reiterated the team's clear batting goals for the match, which included the pursuit of centuries and substantial individual scores. Pybus further praised Radford as a “very good technical coach” who understands how to “share just enough information without interfering in their game,” underscoring the significance of Atal's maiden Test hundred for both the player and Afghanistan's batting development.

What to watch: Atal's continued development in Test cricket and Afghanistan's batting strength in future matches.

Editor's note: The draft covers the technical coaching details and the match context well, accurately reflecting the source material.