NZ expose Bangladeshs pace failings
Cricinfo.com
A lack of long-term planning and the superfluousness of pace in Bangladeshs domestic cricket are among the reasons for their fast bowlers inability to put New Zealand under pressure despite bowling with the cushion of a massive first-innings total, reports Cricinfo.com
Both times the new ball was available during New Zealands first innings at the Basin Reserve, the Bangladesh captain handed it to Mehedi Hasan. Apart from becoming the first spinner to open the bowling in the first innings in this country, it was a clear signal from the Bangladesh team management that they were giving a skilled spinner his favourite condition of ball to give him the best opportunity to make an impact.
Mehedi didnt take a wicket in his 37 overs, bowling steadily, but the conditions didnt allow him to get the ball to grip on the pitch, and he wasnt able to slide the quicker delivery into the left-handers pads like he did so effectively at home against England in October. Shakib Al Hasan and Mahmudullah took two wickets each but that is not to say that Mehedi didnt bowl well. Given his lack of experience, this was his first major challenge outside home. Still, he got the best bite of the cherry.
Even though Taskin Ahmed, Kamrul Islam Rabbi and Subashis Roy bowled more overs than the combined numbers of the spinners, it is spin that is king for Bangladesh, home and away. The three rookie seamers took six wickets in 81.2 overs, giving away 317 runs at 3.90 per over and picking up a wicket roughly every 13.3 overs. The three spinners on the other hand eked out four wickets in 67 overs, but they bowled tightly, conceding 3.12 per over. Even in conditions more favoured to pace bowling, spin remains key to Bangladeshs planning, execution and performance.
The pace bowlers failure to adapt to different situations during New Zealands 148.2-over innings, mainly through inexperience, suggested they were as yet not equipped with the methods to either take wickets regularly or hold up one end. New Zealand scored at a run rate of 3.80 in the 77 overs they played on the third day, allowing them to get close to Bangladeshs total despite only going at 3.46 in 71.2 overs on day four. Four of their batsmen got past the 50 mark but more crucial was the fact that their innings contained four 50-plus stands.
Had Bangladesh brought a pace attack with a stronger base and with plenty of quality longer-format action behind them, New Zealand would have certainly faced more wicket-taking deliveries, which would have had a domino effect over the day and a half of their batting.
Everyone knows Taskin as a limited-overs bowler of immense promise but he came into this tour having only played ten first-class matches, all of them before his international debut in 2014
At a time when Bangladesh have possibly their best ever pace attack in limited-overs cricket, they are consistently fielding some of their least threatening pace attacks in Tests. It hasnt always been the case. Considering only their tours to New Zealand over their 16 years as a Test side, the current group of pacers makes up the weakest attack. Back in 2001, Bangladesh had youngsters in Mashrafe Mortaza and Mohammad Sharif, the workmanlike left-armer Manjural Islam and the experienced Khaled Mahmud and Hasibul Hossain. Mahmud was a dibbly-dobbly medium pacer while Hasibul had by then become quite erratic. Though the motley crew didnt do anything great, it was still a bowling attack that could attack.
Mashrafe was the attack leader in 2008 and bowled well in tandem with the aggressive Shahadat Hossain and the newcomer Sajedul Islam who troubled Stephen Fleming. Shahadat returned in 2010 with Rubel Hossain, who had a pronounced sling in his action back then, and the slippery Shafiul Islam.
The comparison with previous attacks is certainly unfair and not the intention here, but it is a major worry that Bangladesh continue to take rookie fast bowlers on overseas tours. Rubel, carrying the drinks in the first Test, should have been developed into the attack leader by now. Instead, it is the debutant Taskin who has to take on that role given his ODI experience.
SCOREBOARD
Bangladesh first innings 595-8 dec.
New Zealand 1st innings (overnight 292-3)
J Raval c Kayes b Kamrul 27
T Latham lbw Shakib 177
K Williamson c Kayes b Taskin 53
R Taylor c M Riyad b Kamrul 40
H Nicholls c Mehedi b Shakib 53
C de Grandhomme c Kayes
b Subashis 14
B Watling c Kayes b M Riyad 49
M Santner b Subashis 73
T Southee lbw M Riyad 1
N Wagner c Kayes b Kamrul 18
T Boult not out 4
Extras (b10, lb3, w16, nb1) 30
Total (all out; 148.2 overs) 539
Fall of wickets: 1-54, 2-131, 3-205,
4-347, 5-366, 6-398, 7-471, 8-473,
9-504,10-539.
BOWLING O M R W
Mehedi 37 5 116 0
Subashis 26.2 6 89 2
Taskin 29 4 141 1
Kamrul 26 4 87 3
Shakib 27 2 78 2
M Riyad 3 0 15 2
Bangladesh 2nd innings
Tamim b Santner 25
I Kayes rtd 24
Mominul not out 10
M Riyad c Watling b Wagner 5
Mehedi run out 1
Shakib not out 0
Extras (nb 1) 1
Total (3 wickets; 18.3 overs) 66
Fall of wickets: 1-50, 2-63, 3-66.
BOWLING O M R W
T Boult 4 0 21 0
T Southee 3 1 12 0
M Santner 6 0 19 1
N Wagner 5.3 1 14 1
