Batting, fielding deserve attention
Tigers face first-ever Test in India
Syed Mohammed Pithu, Hyderabad
The batting collapse and wayward fielding of Bangladesh seems to be eternal. The problem starts in World T20 in Bangalore against India and from then on the collapses and fielding lapses became a normal episode in Bangladesh innings regardless of the format of the game.
While the T20 match against India in which they lost three wickets for 0 runs and subsequently being edged by one run is considered as the root of the disintegration, they were supposed to break the jinx in ODI format, emboldened by their epic performance in 2015. But it was not to be. Even though they won the series against Afghanistan by 2-1, in all three matches they tasted a sensational batting collapse that readseven for 62, seven for 54 and six for 67. It continued against England in the first game of the series in which they lost six wickets for 17 runs to loss the game from a winning position. The collapse continued in Test cricket also as nine wicket fell for 49 runs in the second Test in Dhaka. The same thing happened in New Zealand also as their wickets fell like a pack of cards in ODI and Test series. Bangladesh were completely whitewashed in New Zealand, paying the price of their clueless batting.
The fielding complemented the batting collapse in style actually. At least 18 catches were dropped in New Zealand tour, prompting the BCB to call for the service of greatest ever fielder Jonty Rhodes. Whether Rhodes will join Bangladesh, is yet to be known but the way the fielders put down catches in abundance, no good score is safe to protect.
Bangladesh came to India for one-off Test with those two big issues. Neither fielding ordeal, no batting collapse issue seemed to be corrected. Mushfiqur Rahim, recovering from his injury, and Soumya Sarkar got small-sized half-century in the practice match but none of them converted it to big one. Apart from them, no one in the top or middle order could deal with Indian bowlers well. Keeping the continuity of the New Zealands horror fielding show, Bangladesh fielders also put down some catches here. If the practice match is anything to go by, it is to be believed those problem could hinder Bangladesh in the original game also.
Coming with little experience, Bangladesh young bowling troop did a praiseworthy work in New Zealand but the Indian condition would be real challenge for the young pacers of Bangladesh. In their first match (two-day practice game) in India, barring Shuvashis Roy, no pacers did a commendable job even in a pace-favourable surface. Given the unforgiving condition in India for fast bowlers, Taskin and company shouldnt be blamed if they fail to make impact. In fact pitch of Rajiv Gandhi Stadium in Hyderabad was never so benevolent for the pacers. Only one pacer made his place in top 10 wicket-takers in this ground and that too Zahir Khan is in seventh position with just four wickets. As usually Ravichandran Ashwin is the highest wicket-taker in this ground with 18 wickets in just two matches. Given his extraordinary form in Test cricket, he is real threat for any visiting team in India.
So it is up to batsmen and fielder to deliver if they want to make their maiden Test in India memorable.
Dropping catches is said to be the part of the game but the way Bangladesh fielders made it part of their game, it raised a question about their ability. Bangladesh fast bowling coach Courtney Walsh however tried to shield the players, saying, Once you are in the game, catches are going to be dropped.
I told them not to worry about it. Think about the next one. Nobody drops catches purposely. It is part of cricket. Spectacular catches are going to be taken at some point of time as well. So you have to take the rough with the smooth. They have accepted, taken it on the chin and moved on. They are not frustrated with it. The catch go down, you gotta go again.
But whatever Walsh said, everybody knows another horror show in batting and fielding in another overseas tour could make Bangladesh crickets future messy given they would have to play most of the matches in abroad in the coming season.
