DHAKA: Nine wickets humiliating defeat of Bangladesh in effectively two and a half days in the second test at Hagley Oval, Christchurch completed the comprehensive white wash of Bangladesh in all three (ODI, T20 and Test Matches) formats of the game.

Third day of the test was completely rain out, first and the second day was also rain interrupted. Bangladesh was not expected to win any test.

All teams visiting New Zealand struggled to come to terms with wickets and conditions. In both the tests Bangladesh competed neck to neck with the hosts. But they played two extremely poor second innings and embraced humiliating defeats.

In Hagley Oval Bangladesh was forced to fall back on reserve bench following injury to three of their key players captain Mushfique, Opener Imrul and leading test batsman Mominul. The ace pace bowler Mustafiz was not match fit. Two debutants Nurul Hasan and Nazmul Hasan were baptized, Taskin appeared in his second test, Rabbi, Miraj and Soumya appeared in their fourth test.

The wicket was bouncy and had appreciable lateral movement. Bangladesh was put to bat by host captain Kane Williamson. Bangladesh exhibited brave batting display and riding on Shakib and Soumya’s brave batting and late order resistance produced a respectable first innings of 289 all out. This they did braving very hostile bowling attack of leading Kiwi pacers Southee, Boult and Wagner.

On the second day Bangladeshi pace trio Taskin -Rubel and Rabbi possibly bowled the best spells any Bangladeshi pace attack ever produced against any international opposition anywhere. They constantly teased and tormented Kiwi batsmen. But for poor catching many opportunities were lost. Yet Rabbi bagged two, Miraj and Taskin got one wickets each till Bangladeshi pacers lost consistency after lunch on the second day. Shakib coming to attack in the second spell late stuck three vital blows when Kiwis appeared cruising reducing them to 260/7 still 27 runs behind. Suddenly, sky opened and no play was possible. In this momentum, Bangladesh could have bundle out Kiwis even below Bangladesh score. But that was never to be.

The third days’ play was completely lost reducing the match to a second innings shoot out. On the fourth morning, again Taskin bowled a brilliant spell. Miraj was also getting drift. Courtesy few dropped catches again Kiwis took a very significant lead of 65 getting all out at 354.

Wicket had no demon. Kiwi bowlers were not looking unplayable. Yet the second innings syndrome of Bangladesh led Tamim (8), Shakib (8), Shabbir (0), Nazmul (12), Nurul (0) perishing without any reason. Soumya (36) and Riad (38) could not convert their good start to anything substantial. Any one viewing Bangladesh bat may have thought these guys suffered from food poisoning requiring early return to pavilion.

When things were looking bleak Taskin and Rabbi batted aggressively giving some respectability to the Innings adding 51 runs in the 9th wicket. Bangladesh could reach 173 batting only 52.5 overs in the process. Kiwis raced to victory reaching the 111 runs target losing Jeet Raval only in 18.4 overs. Bangladesh lost both the test by comfortable margins of 8 and 9 wickets.

Bangladesh earlier lost all three ODI matches and all three T20 matches.

On looking back in retrospect one finds in all 7 matches excepting the first ODI Bangladesh had their moments, bowlers created opportunities but fielders failed to take catches. Key batsmen batted poorly at key stages. If the team could be managed properly there was no reason why Bangladesh could not win at least One ODI, One T20 and draw both the test.

Bangladesh has a highly-paid head coach who is basically a batsman, it has a batting coach. But our batsmen batted poorly when required. Team has a fielding coach but fielded worse than school children. Only the bowlers bowled well, being tutored by legendary Courtney Walsh. Taskin, Rabbi, Subhashish, Rubel, Miraj looked impressive. Had the fielding been even average there could be much different scenario. At least 9 catches some dollies were dropped in New Zealand first innings at Hagley Oval alone.

Tamim had a very poor series in the context of his standing, Riad was completely out of sorts, Shakib played some gorgeous innings but failed to bat well when required in both the test. Mushfique was unlucky getting injured, His absence made the middle order batting disorganized. Absence of Nasir was keenly felt.

So, from New Zealand Bangladesh would be returning with the ignominy of comprehensive white wash. Four key players Mashrafee, Mushfique, Kayes, Mominul will have to nurse their injuries. Mustafiz was taken before getting match fit. A huge contingent of BCB officials though had a pleasure trip in New Zealand.

Nation can demand an explanation from big mouth BCB officials. Head coach must explain for poor batting and abysmal fielding performance. We must not spend huge foreign exchange on incompetent foreign coaches for guiding such humiliating performances.

We do believe our players quality wise are as good as the Kiwis. But they hardly play longer version cricket and as such cannot play consistently well over three-four days. In the both the tests they did not survive even 60 overs in the second innings.  

Bangladesh with such a test team may be humiliated against a very strong Indian team in the lone test against India in India. That will prove justification for BBCI not hosting Bangladesh in bilateral series.

We hope Bangladesh sports ministry will do soul searching after the disastrous New Zealand tour. No one remembers for a long time the first innings performance of any team in test. What matters the margin of defeat and overall performance in the test, Bangladesh failed miserably in the tests as they did in ODIs and T20s.

Will the shameless BCB seek apology?

BDST: 1743 HRS, JAN 23, 2016
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