Ireland's spin coach heaps praise on debutant Gavin Hoey

Ireland spin coach Chris Brown believes debutant leg spinner Gavin Hoey will be a good prospect for his team in the longer format of the game. The 24-year-old showed promise by picking up two wickets in each innings against Bangladesh in the second Test at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium.

Hoey made his mark by dismissing the well-set Mominul Haque (87) in the second innings, outsmarting the veteran batter with his change of pace. "I think he's going to be a really good performer for us, particularly in this format," Brown said. "The lad's only 24 and he's played only a handful of first-class games, and he showed real promise in this series against extremely good players of spin. I think he's going to have a really good future."

Brown drew comparisons to Shane Warne's debut, noting: "I remember Shane Warne on his debut against the West Indies, I think he was one for 145 off 50-odd overs, and obviously he turned out to be the best leg spinner in the world. Gavin Hoey has shown all the attributes here that he's going to be a really good performer."

Brown added that young left-arm spinner Matthew Humphrey, who took a five-wicket haul in the series opener at Sylhet International Cricket Stadium, alongside Hoey and experienced Andy McBrine will form a formidable spin attack for Ireland. "Learning that the two young lads in particular will take from this will hold them in really good stead in the future when we come to these conditions again," said Brown.

"Andy McBrine was excellent in the first innings. Second innings he bowled well too – he didn't have much luck, had a couple of catches dropped off him. But certainly the two young players will take a lot from this moving forward," he added.

Brown explained his basic approach with the spinners: "First and foremost, it's to try and spin the ball as hard as you can whilst maintaining as much accuracy as you can. The Bangladesh batters use the crease and manipulate the ball in ways they won't have come across before. This experience will hold them in good stead next time we come to the subcontinent."

Regarding the pitch conditions, Brown noted: "The surface here, certainly the first three days, has held well with the odd one really gripping and spinning. Tomorrow morning we'll try and take it session by session and try to bat the whole day."

Bangladesh are on the brink of a clean sweep, with Ireland needing 333 runs on the final day with four wickets remaining after being reduced to 176-6 chasing 509 to win. Bangladesh won the opening Test by an innings and 47 runs in Sylhet.