It is not just as a batsman that Mike Yardy has improved beyond recognition as he proved against Bangladesh yesterday.

The day after making a career-best 257 the 24-year-old pocketed his best bowling figures of 5-83 as Sussex thrashed the hapless tourists by an innings and 226 runs.

Until last winter Yardy bowled seam-up and off cutters with limited success. He began the season with just four first-class wickets to his name but doubled that tally as Bangladesh were bowled out for 196 half an hour before tea on the final day after following on 422 runs behind.

Coach Mark Robinson is convinced Yardy can find a niche for himself as a front-line batsman who has another string to his bow.

With Mark Davis and Mushtaq Ahmed both struggling to overcome injuries the opportunities to establish his all-round skills may come sooner than he expected.

Yardy admits he got about four balls' to turn off the straight against Bangladesh. But he lured several batsmen to their demise with subtle changes of flight.

"I feel as if I've got a natural loop," he added.

The last of his victims was 16-year-old reserve wicketkeeper Mushfiqur Rahim who came it at No. 6 and made an excellent 63 full of wristy, back foot drives.

His performance was about the only crumb of comfort for Bangladesh coach Dav Whatmore after a dispiriting few days. Whatmore even offered his apologies to Robinson for not giving Sussex more of a contest.

Next week's first Test at Lord's is shaping up to be one of the biggest mis-matches in the history of Test cricket.

The need to give Yardy a long spell - he sent down 25 overs in total - meant Chris Nash did not get an opportunity to bowl his off breaks but until Mushfiqur and Shahadat Hossain put on 45 for the last wicket there was little else to stretch Matt Prior in his first game as captain.

Yardy's first two wickets were taken in three overs before lunch. Nafees Iqbal shouldered arms when Yardy pushed one through and lost his off stump and Mohammad Ashraful mis-timed a drive and was caught by Davis' substitute, Ollie Rayner, as he tumbled backwards at mid-on.

After lunch Rajin Saleh carved into the hands of wicketkeeper Tim Ambrose and Talha Jubaer gave Yardy his fourth wicket in similar fashion as he cut against the spin.

Sussex rotated their seamers at the Cromwell Road end to mop up the rest of the Bangladeshi resistance. Johan van der Wath took two wickets in three balls while Luke Wright ended some spirited resistance at the top of the order when Aftab Ahmed nibbled outside off stump after battling for 27 overs to make 33.

Robinson was in charge of the team in the absence of Peter Moores, who was making his first visit to Loughborough since his appointment as England Academy director a month ago.

"It's hard to equate how well we played," admitted Robinson, "But Bangladesh are a Test country and that shouldn't be forgotten.

"We regard all 18 in our squad as first team players and this was a chance for the guys to show that they are capable of taking their opportunity when it comes."