West Indies 380 All Out [ S Chandrapaul 84* , LR Johnson 66, KC Brathwaite 63, DM Bravo 46, JE Taylor 40 ,Al Amin 3/ 80, Rabiul Islam 2/63 ,Shafiul Islam 2/80 ,Taijul Islam 2/ 89] Bangladesh 104 /7 [ Tamim Iqbal 48 ,KAJ Roach 5/33, JE Taylor 2/33]

Pathetic and awful batting by Bangladesh in responding not so imposing West Indian first innings score of 380 all out makes them look miserable at the end of day two. On 104/7 Bangladesh still needs no score 77 more runs to avoid following on which at this moment looks probable. Yesterday we wrote, the first day’s West Indian batting could be ideal lessons to be learnt for the Bangladeshi batsmen. But the way they played evidences that our batsmen are so dumb that they learn no lesson .They make the same mistakes over and over again. For professional cricketers these are unbecoming. It appears that the mentors and the team management possibly have no capacity or skill to guide them. It will not be unkind to say that few of them who fail repeatedly do not deserve to play test cricket .If bowling and fielding shows improvement one day batting fails to spoil the show or it is the other way round. 

Cricinfo so vividly summarized the second days play as under 

Quote 

A day that began promisingly from Bangladesh has ended with the team in a pall of gloom. Kemar Roachhas bowled excellently, bowling a predominantly full length, with that inward angle making the batsmen play at everything, and mixing those up with enough short balls to keep messing with their footwork. Only Tamim Iqbal looked comfortable, but even he couldn't help poking at one outside off, and Bangladesh have simply fallen away since then. 

West Indies have a quality new-ball pair, and hopefully Roach and Taylor can continue their good work against India and then South Africa as well. For now, West Indies look like they are on their way to a 2-0 series win here. But they still need 12 more wickets for that, and who can say that Bangladesh can't fight back tomorrow. “

Unquote 

It was a rare day for Bangladesh when its bowlers bowled exceedingly well and fielders caught more than dropping. West Indian batsmen were kept honest and could not take much liberty. Bangladesh could restrict West Indies to a relatively modest score .The wicket provided some assistance to pace bowlers but not that it was unplayable if only batmen had technique and temperament. Unfortunately the present team lacks both and they also can not apply what they have. The batsmen eye witnessed how West Indian batsmen concentrated and played with patience on the first day .They should have learnt a lesson or two from Chandrapaul. But unfortunately they did not and led the team to a miserable state of another possible ignominious defeat.

The day started with so much promise for Bangladesh. The pacers Rabiul and Al Amin started pitching their deliveries on or around good lengths. They reaped immediate reward as West Indies quickly lost four wickets .From 248/3 it became 269/7. Only some desperate strokes of Taylor, Benn and tenacity of Chandrapaul took the score to 380. All three pacers bowled much better on evidencing that Heath Streak’s words of advice is possibly working.. Chadrapual produced yet another exemplified unbeaten innings of 84 playing 198 deliveries. Taylor struck five fours and two sixes in his explosive innings of 40.Benn scored a very useful 25 with three fours and a six. Mushfique and others should take another lesson from Chandrapul how he allies with tail enders for the teams cause.

Bangladesh was not reeling under a run mountain. There was enough time to play. The top order was only required to see off the shiny red cherry. The wicket had some movement, bowl was swinging a bit .Yet under no circumstances it was unplayable if batsmen had good footwork,required sense of leaving the deliveries and applies patience. Tamim was looking in his element and started playing an innings mixed with patience and measured aggression. Shamur Rahman perished very early poking at a Roach swinging delivery. Anamul resisted for a while. Roach and Taylor started bowling mostly at full length .They were bowling fast and that pace moving the ball in both direction caught Bangladesh batsmen napping .Very poor footwork led to quick dismissals of Anamul , Mominul, Mushfique and Nasir .Even Tamim who was looking secure poked at one outside his off stump. Between 43 and 69 Bangladesh lost 5 more wickets leaving Mahmudullah and the rest an uphill monumental task of saving the grace. At the end of the day Bangladesh was tottering at 104/7 and a very possible following on was looming.

We must write a word or two of excellent pace bowling of Roach, Taylor and Gabriel .Getting wickets of these pathetic Bangladeshi batsmen may not be judged a big deal now in international cricket. But the manner they are bowling now has just started rekindling hope of another West Indian fast blowing emergence. They will be tested soon against much formidable Indian and South African batting. Roach was very accurate and was bowling at a probing length making the batsmen play most of his deliveries .His rapid in cutters devastated Bangladeshis . Taylor on the day bowled with pace and accuracy. Gabriel is also showing improvement match after match. With Holder waiting on the wings and Fidel Edwards may be returning soon West Indian new ball attack is looking formidable.

For Bangladesh the third day will be another day of judgment. Batsmen playing test cricket are expected no making same mistakes over and over again. For Bangladesh it is time they demonstrate character and class at this level of cricket. We won’t be surprised if new suggestions come for suspending test status of Bangladesh for a while to undertake purposeful home works on basics of the cricket. 

BDST: 0815 HRS, SEP 15, 2014