The heading is a consensus of news bulletins reporting Bangladesh’s historic win over the Australians at Mirpur by 20 runs.
Totally irresponsible and ignorant reporting.
Sure it was a first-time win, and a good one at that.
But there’s been no mention of what Bangladesh did to England last October at the same ground as yesterday.
Set 273 in the fourth innings to whitewash the two-Test series, England was well on the way at 0-100.
In an astonishing collapse thanks to brilliant spin bowling, England was bundled out for 164 to lose by 108, squaring the series 1-1.
That was Banglladesh’s first win over England.
Comparing losses on Bangladesh turning wickets with variable bounce to Australia’s belter wickets is chalk and cheese.
There’s no better way to prove the point than compare the top five Australians in the batting order with their averages in Australia to performances in India and Sri Lanka.
The only one of the five to be successful in Asia is skipper Steve Smith.
David Warner
Career stats – 19 centuries, average 47.64.
In Australia – 14 centuries, average 59.21.
In India – 0 centuries, average 24.25.
In Sri Lanka – 0 centuries, average 27.16.
Matt Renshaw
Career – one century, average 39.80.
In Australia – one century, average 63.00.
In India – 0 centuries, average 29.00
Usman Khawaja
Career – five centuries, average 45.47.
In Australia – four centuries, average 63.73,
In Sri Lanka – 0 centuries, average 19.16.
Steve Smith
Career – 20 centuries, average 60.18.
In Australia – 10 centuries, average 68.65.
In India – three centuries, average 60.00
In Sri Lanka – one century average 41,16,
Peter Handscomb
Career – two centuries, average 49.61.
In Australia – two centuries, average 99.75.
In India – 0 centuries, average 28.78.
Little wonder the baggy greens have won only two of their last 22 Tests in Asia.
But the national selectors can’t be blamed, they have been picking the best performed Australian batsmen.
The difference is quite obvious, only Steve Smith can play spin on turning wickets.
But selectors have expected the Australians to knuckle down and tough it out, despite their shortcomings against outstanding spinners on receptive tracks.
Paceman Pat Cummins batting nine showed what could be done with his fighting 25 off 98 deliveries in the first dig, and his unbeaten 33 off 60 in the second to come so close to winning.
Throw in Ashton Agar’s unbeaten 43 in the first dig off 141, was another lesson to his batting peers.
The perennial disappointment Glenn Maxwell was set in both digs, only to have his normal rush of blood for early dismissal.
In the first he had toughed it out for 23 off 42 before he pranced down the wicket to be stumped. He was so far out the scorer would have been forgiven if he’d written run out in the scorebook.
In the second Maxwell toughed it out until lunch with 14 runs off 49.
First ball after lunch he slashed at a square drive and was bowled.
(AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)
Keeper Matt Wade wasn’t there long enough in either dig to make an impression.
Five runs off five, and four off 14 didn’t help the Australian cause.
So what should the selectors do for Chittagong to square the series?
Khawaja must go, although I hasten to add he’ll be a key batsman in the Ashes series next summer.
Bring in medium pace all-rounder Hilton Cartwright for Khawaja, bat Smith at three, Handscomb at four, Maxwell at five, and Cartwright at six.
Maxwell can count himself lucky for another chance, but there’s no-one in the touring party to take his place.
Wade must go, having done nothing with the bat as expected, but he allowed 30 byes which was more than the losing margin – Handscomb must take over the gloves.
Jackson Bird will replace the injured Josh Hazlewood who will return home, with left-arm spinner Steve O’Keefe the paceman’s replacement.
And for his dedicated batting, a combination of patience and power, promote Cummins to eight with Agar nine, Nathan Lyon 10, and Bird 11.
It would be important for team morale to win at Chittagong.
But whatever the outcome, it won’t have any impact whatsoever on the Ashes series.
republican
Guest
.......a world class team must be adept at playing in all conditions and not simply in the comfort zone i.e. their back yard. This is something Australian sporting sides and not just our Cricket side, fail at consistently..........
republican
Guest
There seems to be some unhealthy denial about Australian sport presently and while we remain internationally competitive there are strong signs that we are also falling behind nations of privilege and those far less resourced than we are. This has been more recently evidenced by our egotistical Cricket sides performance against minnows Bangladesh, a nation that is no where near as privileged as we are in terms of support, resources and dare I say financial incentives. If you compare us with a nation of small population i.e. NZ, just for the purpose of this exercise, we are looking increasingly mediocre across a raft of sports. NZ probably resources their athletes and sporting pursuits as well as we do however we do have a big advantage in respect of population, so do we need to ask ourselves what it is that distinguishes them from us - is it passion, or participation at the GR perhaps? NZ are superior than we are in Rowing, Track and Field, Union, Netball, Surf Life Saving to name a few while they are on par with us in sports i.e. Rugby League, Cricket, Soccer, Basketball, Tennis and many more. I note that we are also regressing in Swimming. The recent Worlds exposed this sport dramatically, while our GR campaign at the Junior Worlds was extremely concerning, failing to secure a single gold medal and finishing around 15th on the medal tally. Nations i.e. Ireland, Argentina, Saffa and of course England performed far better all securing gold medals at this tier, while Canada finished second behind the might of US Swimming. I have said it before and I will say it again, there is something very sick with sport in this nation, suffice to say the AIS and similar programmes need to be scrutinised and stripped back with a far greater emphasis on participation in sport by our young people rather than our obsession with the commercial tiers.
DavSA
Guest
It is baffling how a cricket team boasting the likes of Smith ,Warner, Hazelwood , Cummins , Starc , Lyon , Khawaja ( who is rated by just about everyone except it seems Australians or more specifically Aus selectors) continues to underperform for so long now. so I am going to ask the question : Is all ok in the camp ? At face value everything is just dandy so I am going to compare them to my own team The Proteas because they too on paper have a very decent side but with the exception of the Aussie series have also underachieved... We were all under the impression that all was ok in the squad but closer scrutiny suggests otherwise. During a press conference where it was revealed that Kyle Abbott and Riley Roussouw were to go Kolpak in England , 2 exceptional cricketers who would make most teams in the world , the coach Domingo tore into them . Roussouw notified CSA by text msg . A short while later it was announced that the position of head coach was to be advertised and that Domingo would need to reapply . The writing was on the wall . During the recent England series it was announced that Otis Gibson , England's bowling coach was in pole position for the job . Captain Faf then in an unprecedented move public ally expressed his support for Gibson despite the fact that Domingo had re applied for the position . He received no censure from CSA . Also why Gibson , SA have fine coaches , we export them ....think Paddy Upton , Gary Kirsten and Mickey Arthur . Amla looks disinterested , Faf distracted . ....Batting and bowling are Art , fielding is a discipline and South Africa once the trend setters have gone from good to bad to worse here . That is the coach .If an Amla or say Philander don't show enthusiasm for fielding drills show them the front door . .....if as a coach you are serious about it . Now with all my ramblings let me return to Australia and ask again. Is all ok from coach down . We saw once Michael Clarke brought out his book that things were being kept from the public eye . If I am correct then it explains all. If I am wrong then I am at a loss.
DavSA
Guest
It is baffling how a cricket team boasting the likes of Smith ,Warner, Hazelwood , Cummins , Starc , Lyon , Khawaja ( who is rated by just about everyone except it seems Australians or more specifically Aus selectors) continues to underperform for so long now. so I am going to ask the question : Is all ok in the camp ? At face value everything is just dandy so I am going to compare them to my own team The Proteas because they too on paper have a very decent side but with the exception of the Aussie series have also underachieved... We were all under the impression that all was ok in the squad but closer scrutiny suggests otherwise. During a press conference where it was revealed that Kyle Abbott and Riley Roussouw were to go Kolpak in England , 2 exceptional cricketers who would make most teams in the world , the coach Domingo tore into them . Roussouw notified CSA by text msg . A short while later it was announced that the position of head coach was to be advertised and that Domingo would need to reapply . The writing was on the wall . During the recent England
Rocket
Guest
They can't play spin because they obviously have never been taught or don't have the natural skills to do it (besides Smith). Regardless of the surface (although less important in Australia because surfaces are like roads) you need to hit the ball on the full or low bounce or on the highest point of the bounce..in other words getting as close to the pitch as possible or getting right back in your crease and hit at the highest bounce. All the best players employ this technique because it works! Our crew consistently play an in between length because their footwork and judgement of length is below par...hence so many lbw, bowled and stumped dismissals in Asia.
ara
Guest
??after reading ur comment I laugh a lot,, I am from Bangladesh....Of course we're not r rich bt our conditions are not as bad as u thought.... Flood is a regular thing here just like earthquake in Japan.... Yes ,, we r happy that we win ,, bt Game is just game... One of our biggest festival coming in 2days,, we r preparing for that... Don't sad for us most of our people living happily.. We always make a spot in top 30 happy nation list ☺..Someday come to Visit our country...Thought dhaka in not beautiful even dirty bt our countryside is really beautiful...
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
David who is your number seven in this team? You picked: 1. Warner 2. Renshaw 3. Smith 4. Handscomb (WK) 5. Maxwell 6. Cartwright 7. .................. 8. Cummins 9. Agar 10. Lyon 11. Bird
Rob
Guest
Yes the little Bangas beat us fair and square. It's good for cricket.
Giri Subramanian
Roar Guru
It is nice to see that Bangladesh have started winning at home. They have already beaten India, SA and Pakistan in ODI series at home and if they manage to win this series, it will be even bigger than that. Coming to your team selection I agree with dropping Wade but don't agree dropping Khawaja.
TD
Guest
Thanks Ian Whitechurch, someone else who can finally see that this bunch of overpaid media grabbers CANNOT play a ball that moves off line. Go to the stats, see how many Aussie bats could not play a swinging ball in England or for that matter a reverse swing here, or a turning ball ANYWHERE. Also - please explain the hype surrounding Khawaja, why persist with a batsman who doesn't perform at the elite level???
Ian Whitchurch
Guest
This defeat was the result of decades of arrogance and stupidity by the people who run Australian cricket. This is an Australian team full of players who can't play spin. Why can't they play spin part one ? Because there are no longer any turning pitches in Australia, first class players do not get tested against a ball that turns. Why can't they play spin part two ? Because the very well funded Australian Cricket Board won't send players to play a number of first-class matches in places the ball does turn. As a specific example, this tour had one first class game, which was rained out. It's odd that a game gets rained out during the rainy reason in Bangladesh. Weirdly, come the Test Australian batsmen appeared to be unfamiliar with the conditions. Note this happened last time as well, but that Australian side had Ponting and Gilchrist, and this Australian side does not. Over many years, it is clear that the Australian Cricket Board wants Australian pitches to be roads, and so they get batsmen who can only bat on roads, and so they get bowlers who can only bowl on roads. There is also the ... interesting ... decisions about team selection, starting with selecting a wicket keeper because he can bat, not because he can keep wickets. The margin of loss for Australia was greater than the number of byes Wade let through. As a Bangladesh supporter, more of this please. Also, please keep picking "all rounders" who can't bat or bowl well enough. This worked brilliantly for England in the 1990s, and it's working as well for Australia now as it did for England then. The traditional Australian approach of picking your six best batsmen, your best keeper and your best four bowlers is something that, as a Bangladesh supporter, I want Australia to avoid at all costs.
James Pettifer
Guest
Hah. Got me with the headline. In addition, England lost to the "worst cricket team in the last 50 years" at home. So they aren't having a great week either
Tanmoy Kar
Guest
The result was inavitable once Australia was down to 4/44 in the first innings and somehow managed to reach a 200+ score.
matth
Guest
Your headline did get me in David. glad you are giving due recognition to an improving Bangladesh side that would fancy themselves against all comers at home. I agree with your selections as well, I don;t know what's wrong with me this morning!
pauli
Guest
I'm absolutely fed up with the focus being on how sad it is for Australia, rather than how wonderful it is for Bangladesh. When you invite other teams into a competition you have to accept that they'll one day become competitive and beat you.
AREH
Roar Guru
Poor history repeating itself and sadly unsurprising. However I'm not sure we can call Bangladesh minnows any longer, I think the days of that are well gone. They are a team on the rise and have been for some time now, their improvement has been nothing short of remarkable, and they have to be taken seriously. They almost beat England 2-0 only a little while ago, too
Cicero
Guest
Cricket aside, what a wonderful thing to happen for Bangladesh. Poverty stricken, inundated with floodwaters and widespread devastation this victory must be such an uplifting experience for the whole country. Good luck to them. A victory to Australia wouldn't mean nearly as much to Australians as it does for the people of Bangladesh. Something to cheer about, both here and there.
Rob
Guest
It's funny how you can list sub continent averages against home averages but in Maxwell's case he has never been given the opportunity in home conditions? I was disgusted by Maxi's dismissal in the second innings but after watching the mode of Smith's dismissal in both digs you could be just as critical. I'm not sure Maxwell has been on a good batting deck yet at Test level. It was a spinners paradise from day 1 and if they got the ball landing consistently in the right areas it was difficult to score runs. Khawaja is no chance against spinners. The others need to play on these wickets consistently to improve their techniques and shot selections playing on these wickets. The Australian team doesn't get enough exposure to these conditions and are unfortunately found out by their overwhelming desire to score over occupation of the crease.