With his slinging action and burst of pace, Rubel Hossain has added a new dimension to the Bangladeshi bowling attack which in recent times has become the domain of spinners.

The right-arm seamer who arrived on the domestic scene in 2007 benefited from a good stint in the National Cricket League which saw him getting selected for the Bangladesh Under-19 and A sides. His fine performances for these teams saw him being propelled into the national side, where he made immediate impact on his ODI debut. His 5.3 overs burst not only brought about 4 wickets but were also instrumental in Bangladeshs's victory as Sri Lanka was skittled out for a miserly 147. Seeing his effectiveness in the shorter formats of the game, Bangladesh decided to try him out in Tests and in only his fifth Test, Hossain came up with a five-wicket haul against the Kiwis. He also displayed a calm head as a bowler when in an ODI, with New Zealand requiring 8 from 6 deliveries, he bowled the final over and took Bangladesh to a three-run victory.

An exciting prospect, Hossain has all the ingredients to serve Bangladesh cricket for a long time provided he remains fit and stays injury free, something that is easier said than done.