When will Bangladesh be a serious threat?
Roar Rookie By lachymac, 26 May 2010 lachymac is a Roar Rookie
The Bangladesh cricket team has been consistently pushing teams with no luck for the last few years, but when will they start winning some Test matches?
Bangladesh have a very talented line up, with many cricketers capable of being stars in the big arena.
Tamim Iqbal has already proven his worth, with many handy knocks, in particular his 151 against India earlier in the year.
Shakib al Hasan has also proven to be a star with both bat and ball, having the best bowling ever by a Bangladesh player in tests and registering his first hundred, he shows signs of being a great leader capable of taking his team forward.
Mahmudullah, Mushfiqur Rahim and Junaid Siddique have proven they can make runs at test level, but what is stopping this team from being a successful unit?
The selectors have recently plucked out of the domestic ranks Jahurul Islam, who is the second most experienced player in the Test squad for England in terms of first class matches played.
Imrul Kayes also needs to be removed from the side.
His ability in the one day arena is undeniably impressive, but his ability to convert to the four day game is a let down for a side that has always seemed to lack a good opening partnership.
He is a sensible young player who knows how to pace himself well for an innings, something Bangladesh have needed for a long time.
Now with their batting line up fairly strong, the selectors have struggled to pick their bowling team efficiently.
Spinners such as Abdur Razzak and Enamul Haque Jnr have all been successful, but the selectors have again overlooked young Suhrawadi Shuvo, who has been a driving force in the domestic ranks.
Bangladesh A are currently touring the West Indies, with Shuvo taking control with the ball, claiming 9 wickets in the first unofficial Test and 5 in the first innings of the second, as well as making two handy contributions with the bat in the side’s loss in the first match.
Robiul Islam has been chosen for the Test squad, the first positive move in the line of fast bowlers in a long time for Bangladesh.
Shahadat Hossain and Mashrafe Mortaza are the only two fast bowlers that have played recently that are experienced enough to cope with Test level.
The Bangladesh fast bowling line up lacks penetration and variety, with no bowlers up at the high 140 kph mark, meaning change up deliveries are required. And with all right hand fast bowlers in the squad, it makes it easier for batsmen to adjust from one bowler to another.
Syed Rasel has been a good bolwer over the years in the one day arena and has impressed since his return from injury in the domestic ranks and for Bangladesh A.
His left arm pace and ability to move the ball around would much be appreciated in a team that relies on their spinners so heavily.
But the Bangladesh board seems to focus too much on the politics and not enough on the cricket. When will they learn that talent and skill win you matches, not the line up that has the right names in it?
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The Crowd Says (7) | Page 1 of Comments
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- Bangladesh cricket team, Cricket, International Cricket
May 26th 2010 @ 12:01pm
Hutchoman said | May 26th 2010 @ 12:01pm | Report comment
The joys of Test cricket! There is nowhere to hide in a five day examination of every aspect of the game. This is where the true differences between teams around the world lies. Rarely will a single inspired spell or innings be enough to outweigh clear superiority from 1 to 11.
The differences between teams at this level are often not the quality of the best players in the team, rather the quality of smaller but ultimately differentiating contributors. Can the middle order be relied on against the new ball if you find yourself at 3/30? Will the lower order be able to hang around with a recognised batsman to take a mediocre 6/200 to 300 or more on a regular basis? Are the change bowlers going to let the batsmen off the hook after seeing off your strikers? Do you have the ability to restrict runs in the field and make things happen in the field or do you rely on the batsmen getting themselves out?
The answers to the questions above will give the answer to your overall question. While the answers to the above are lacking consistently for Bangladesh they will continue to languish. Until then, they will rely on passages of individual achievement and an opposition off their game to get the odd win. Players of class in batting, bowling and fielding from 1 to 11 are required to consistently win Test matches, not the odd stand out performance.
May 26th 2010 @ 3:55pm
Brett McKay said | May 26th 2010 @ 3:55pm | Report comment
Lachymac, it’s a very good question, and it’s a wonder it hasn’t been asked at higher levels by now. I’ve said this before on The Roar in relation to Bangladesh, that in the same period of time that Bangladesh have had International status, Sri Lanka had gone through exactly the same pathways (ODIs first, then Tests), and had won a World Cup.
Yet Bangladesh’s record is barely better than when they started. Why is this so??
May 26th 2010 @ 8:44pm
whiteline said | May 26th 2010 @ 8:44pm | Report comment
Brett, it’s probably because they haven’t played Pakistan enough.
May 26th 2010 @ 9:31pm
Vinay Verma said | May 26th 2010 @ 9:31pm | Report comment
Hutchoman,you list many valid reasons and they all hold true. Brett has wondered why too? In the end it is the strength of the grassroots and the intensity of the domestic competitions. The administration has a lot to do with it. Facilities in Bangladesh are not the best and they should be better considering their share of revenue from the various ICC tournaments.
Australia’s domestic strength is the envy of the cricket world and reflects the passion of volunteers at the club level.This is not evident in the subcontinent.
May 26th 2010 @ 9:47pm
whiteline said | May 26th 2010 @ 9:47pm | Report comment
Vinay
You are correct. Australia’s club system is unique, and it’s not limited to just cricket. But, my point above also has merit
May 27th 2010 @ 7:45am
Vinay Verma said | May 27th 2010 @ 7:45am | Report comment
Whiteline..your remark is white mischief!
May 31st 2010 @ 3:34am
Lolly said | May 31st 2010 @ 3:34am | Report comment
They are a really young team. Their captain is 23 and one of their main bowlers and batsmen. With all that inexperience there is no-one for them to turn to and players like Ashraful really haven’t stepped up for all their talent. I think they must be persisted with as they will learn and get better at test cricket if they keep this core of players together for a few years.