DHAKA: Having got whitewashed in ODI and T20 series and unfortunately losing the first test drifting from a comfortable position, Bangladesh is on the edge of getting comprehensively whitewashed in all formats in New Zealand tour.

The whitewash in ODI series is going to cost Bangladesh dropping down to 8th position in ICC ODI ranking.

With Captain Mushfique and opening batsman Kayes unfit for the final test match starting at Hagley Oval, Christchurch on Friday (January 20) the task is well cut out for Bangladesh. Bangladesh must play for pride. Absence of two key players, accomplished batsmen would hurt, yet the confidence from batting superbly in the first innings of Wellington test must work well on the psyche of Bangladesh batsmen in Christchurch.

Soumya, due to open innings with stand-in skipper Tamim, can make useful contribution with bat and ball if he can carry his form of last two T20 into the test match. He needs to make judicious choice of his strokes. If he rediscovers his fluent form Bangladesh can wrest initiative early on as his senior partner already showed the way how to counter attack Kiwi quicks early to unsettle them. Soumya will add pace bowling option affording opportunity for inclusion of Taijul Islam as third spinner beside Shakib and Miraz. Taijul is also better batsman than the other tailenders. Bangladesh can hurt Kiwi batting more with spin than by pace of inexperienced bowlers. I would suggest playing Rubel and Rabbi for the test. It is not that Subashis and Taskin did not bowl well. But Bangladesh can make inroads into Kiwi batting by spin. Taijul is a good bowler and can bowl longer spells. Hagley Oval wicket, having bounce, will suit his type of bowling. 

Bangladesh bowled well in some spells but could not do that consistently. At times the bowling was too short to cause discomfort for Kiwi batsmen. They could not bowl in pairs. Perhaps nerves of inexperienced bowlers led them doing that. Addition of Rubel and Taijul may work better.

More than bowling Bangladesh must get out of batting trauma of the second innings. Mushfique showed the technique of playing and leaving short deliveries. Tamim should take different approach in the test as he will not be having two seasoned batsmen in the test. He must guide his flamboyant partner Soumya in settling down before getting aggressive. Mominul is expected to play his role. Mahmudullah is due for a long innings. Top order batsmen must set platform for stroke makers Shakib and Sabbir consolidating the advantage. Nurul Hasan is as good a wicket keeper as Mushfique. But at this moment Mushfique is perhaps the nucleus of Bangladesh batting. Hasan can also bat and bat well. We, however, cannot make out what has happened with the batting of Miraz. He is a much better batsman than what he is performing in national colour. In the first test, last four batsmen contributed nothing. Taijul and Rubel if played may contribute better with the bat.

Bangladesh fielded poorly, dropped few vital catches at crucial stage, ground fielding was also not good. Bangladeshi bowlers create few opportunities and those need to be accepted. Hope Tamim will improve his field setting.

We still feel even depleted Bangladesh team has capability for proving competitive. Drawing the test and stretching Kiwis to their limit is still possible.

My team for Christchurch test would be: Tamim Iqbal, Soumya Sarkar, Mominul Haque, Mahmudullah Riyad, Shakib Al Hasan, Sabbir Rahman, Nurul Hasan, Taijul Islam, Mehedi Hasan Miraz, Rubel Hossain and Kamrul Rabbi

With series on the border and comprehensive whitewash looming, Bangladesh has little more to lose. In a cricket talk show I saw Wasim Akram and Shoaib Akhter highly appreciating Bangladesh’s performance in Basin Reserve. A good steady performance at Christchurch would salvage pride. Bangladesh need to achieve that before the lone test against India in India.

BDST: 1351 HRS, JAN 19, 2017
SR