Lyon fear factor grips Bangladesh
Mushfiq admits poor application in batting
Sports Reporter, Chittagong
Bangladeshs approach and application in the second Test only signified the fact that they are yet to win against a tough opposition on a regular basis, something what they have been doing in the limited over cricket for the last three years.
Losing the game or meek surrender is not the issue as long as there is some realistic strategic plan and method in the place what is badly required to be a good Test team.
Bangladesh indeed lacked imagination and penetration despite knowing that Australia, back to the wall, would comeback with all guns blazing. The seven-wicket defeat in the second Test only sparked the question if the victory in the first is one-off incident or the blessings of their own-designed wicket.
The wicket in Chittagong was also unfamiliar for Australia, even though it was not rank turner. But Australia had a definite plan, they sorted out their mistakes, they executed the plan, and kept their ego away to grind out a victory to what was series and face saving for them.
Bangladesh got the wicket again to complement their strength but unlike Australia they werent well planned. Nathan Lyon was sheer threatening and damaged them in the first innings. A good Test nation always come up at least with a plan in the second innings and thats where the beauty of longer version format lies because it gives second chance always. But the fear factor gripped them. The Lyon factor appeared to have rooted firmly in the mindset of their batsmen but the way team management raffled with the batting order also indicated it did not leave them in good stead either.
Five left hander in the first innings came under severe criticism in the first innings as it helped Lyon to bowl in the same line and length and it seemed rational they wont follow the same route in the second innings. The reshuffle was needed to limit the damage but the way the batting was reshuffled, raised an eye-brow. Mominul Haque, called as Test specialist batted at No.8 position.
We are thinking about right hand, left hand combination. You may think someone did better lower down the order so why he shouldnt promote at the up of the order. But we never think anything only seeing the result. We just think about the benefit of the team, Bangladesh captain Mushfiqur Rahim said.
Mominul Haque was left-hand batsman hence the team management demoted him in batting order in order to ensure Lyon wouldnt get left hand batsmen in two ends at the same time. But there is Mushfiqur Rahim, a right hand batsman and unarguably a technically sound batsman. His promotion at No.4 could have been logical idea but Nasir Hossain who always bats lower down the order, was promoted to No.4 four batsman. Lyon factor clearly inflicted a fear into their mind. A good Test nation never fears to come up with challenge.
Lyon was dangerous but our application was also poor. If the application is good we can play one or two more sessions and result could have been different, Mushfiqur added.
Secondly, temperament in Test cricket is considered to be a key element to do well and in this case Bangladeshi batsmen lacked it so nakedly that it literally gave away the momentum of the match by the first session.
Tamim Iqbal and Soumya Sarkar needed to provide a steady partnership but like most cases in this series Soumya hardly justified his inclusion by playing a silly shot.
Bangladesh began their second innings in a contrasting manner from the one they opted in the first innings and it just did not click as Australian bowlers were smart enough to mix their variations well.
Nasir, who came into Test scene after a long gap did not look to have that confidence and seemed to be vulnerable all the time during his stay at the wicket. Mushfiqur Rahim could have done better.
If you want me to bat at No. 4 position after keeping the wicket in 120 overs, then I will say, it is not solely my duty. Every player has a criteria to play.
Australian bowlers came up with a different strategy as they liked to pitch the ball in the rough and preferred to bowl in between good length and short of length area.
This length made life difficult for host batsman as they were not coming forward enough to get close to the ball while never very keen to go backward as at the back of their mind ball hitting their pads looked to be ingrained. Thats the third point.
Bangladesh emergence as a top cricketing nation cannot be denied by any means but whether they are good enough to make this tag their own need to be addressed.
The win against England and Australia at Dhaka was more a win of their spin bowlers at their own designer-pitch but the actual growth of the team could have been justified if they had the ability to come into terms when their chips were down.
SCOREBOARD
Bangladesh first innings 305
Australia 1st innings
M Renshaw c Mushfiq b Mustafizur 4
D Warner c Imrul b Mustafizur 123
S Smith b Taijul 58
P Handscomb run out 82
G Maxwell c Mushfiq b Mehedi 38
H Cartwright c Soumya b Mehedi 18
M Wade lbw b Mustafizur 8
A Agar b Shakib 22
P Cummins lbw b Mehedi 4
S OKeefe not out 8
N Lyon c Imrul b Mustafizur 0
Extras (b8, lb3, w1) 12
Total (all out; 119.5 overs) 377
Fall of wickets: 1-5, 2-98, 3-250,
4-298, 5-321, 6-342, 7-346, 8-364,
9-376, 10-377.
BOWLING O M R W
Mehedi 38 6 93 3
Mustafizur 20.5 2 84 4
Shakib 31 3 82 1
Taijul 21 1 78 1
Nasir 6 2 14 0
Mominul 2 0 6 0
Sabbir 1 0 9 0
Bangladesh 2nd innings
Tamim st Wade b Lyon 12
Soumya c Renshaw b Cummins 9
I Kayes c Maxwell b Lyon 15
Nasir c Smith b OKeefe 5
Shakib c Warner b Lyon 2
Mushfiqur c Wade b Cummins 31
Sabbir st Wade b Lyon 24
Mominul c Cummins b Lyon 29
Mehedi not out 14
Taijul Islam b Lyon 4
Mustafizur b OKeefe 0
Extras (b12) 12
Total (all out, 71.2 overs) 157
Fall of wickets: 1-11, 2-32, 3-37, 4-39, 5-43, 6-97, 7-129, 8-149, 9-156,
10-157.
BOWLING O M R W
P Cummins 11 3 27 2
N Lyon 33 11 60 6
S OKeefe 22.2 6 49 2
A Agar 5 1 9 0
Australia 2nd innings
M. Renshaw c Mushfiq b Shakib 22
D Warner c Soumya b Mustafizur 8
S Smith c Mushfiq b Taijul 16
P Handscomb not out 16
G Maxwell not out 25
Extras 0
Total (3 wickets, 15.3 overs) 87
Fall of wickets: 1-13, 2-44, 3-48.
BOWLING O M R W
Mustafizur 5 1 16 1
Shakib 6 1 35 1
Taijul 4 0 26 1
Nasir 0.3 0 10 0
Result: Australia won by seven wickets
Series: Two-match series drawn 1-1
