DHAKA: Bruised and battered Bangladesh cricket team from New Zealand tour is set to leave for India on February 2 for a much-awaited test match against top-ranked India. The test will be played in Hyderabad.

Over the last 17 years after getting test status all test playing countries but India hosted Bangladesh. Bangladesh played its first test against India at Bangabandhu National Stadium in Dhaka in 2000.

It may be mentioned that Bangladesh lost all eight matches including two tests in New Zealand and returned with various degree of injuries of 5 key players of the team. The media report states of recovery of most of them. Needless mentioning that for a very important test match Bangladesh team needs all its key members fully match fit. 

Playing India in India these days has become extremely challenging for any team, be it Australia or Zimbabwe. India is a very strong team and wickets are tailor-made to their strength. But after playing in fast and bouncy wickets in alien environment Bangladesh should not bother much in sub-continental condition which they are used to playing at home. Bangladesh played against India many times at home and in T20I formats of the game in India in the recent past. Bangladesh in fact beat India 2-1 in ODI series that it played last in Bangladesh and should have won the match against India in T20 world if not Mushfique and Mahmudullah brain freeze in the last over.

We hope that the team would build on the few positives that could be explored even from New Zealand tour. It was not altogether a disastrous tour as the comprehensive series whitewash would suggest. With a little bit of professional skill, it could win an ODI, a T20 match and draw both the test. But mental fatigue, poor fielding and lack of application of key players led to failures. Credit must be given to the less experienced new players who, despite the absence of many key players through injuries, stressed New Zealand to their limits in the final test till the fourth innings. Taskin, Rabbi, Nurul Hasan were revelation. Soumya regained his dominating form. Shakib, Mushfique and Sabbir sparkled. Mushfique and Kayes showed total commitments. Bangladesh must now try to build castle from the ashes.

Hope, in team talks all pros and cons of the tour will be discussed in detail. Throughout the tour, Bangladesh’s fielding was very ordinary. Even in the first innings of the second test match as many as nine catches were dropped. No team in international cricket can expect to remain competitive dropping so many catches in an innings.

In both the tests Bangladesh played brilliant first innings but all its energy evaporated by the time they batted in the second innings. In both innings, they could not survive even 60 overs. It was the manner even the leader of the team got out was undesirable. Clear weakness of Bangladesh batsmen against fast short deliveries aimed at their body were exposed. Hope team management would explain all these to the players. At least on Indian wickets such situation may not arise.

Media reports suggest that Mushfique and Mominul have almost recovered. Mustafiz was not in the injury list though he was not considered for the tests in New Zealand. But subject to his match fitness he should be in the team as apart from his skills he has experience of playing in Hyderabad being the key bowler of the city’s team in IPL. Mashrafe is no longer in test team. Only doubt is about Kayes. But that position is adequately covered.

What can Bangladesh expect in the lone test? India has bull dodged England in tests and ODIs. Even strong Australia is approaching the upcoming India tour with apprehension of losing. The conditions, however, should not be alien for Bangladesh. Slow low turning track suiting strong Indian spin attack must be managed. At least fast short balls aimed at rib cages won’t need to be encountered. How Bangladesh batsmen handle Ravichandran Ashwin and Rabindra Jadeja would be important determinant.

Bangladeshis are, in general, good players of spin. Mominul, Mushfique, Mahmudullah sweeps well. Bangladeshis need at least one player in the top order who has calm nerves and aptitude for playing long innings. Shahriar Nafees in my opinion fits in. He is, however, not in the squad. Nasir should be playing in the late order for his all-round ability. Tamim, Soumya, Shakib and Sabbir are all aggressive stroke makers. Ashwin and Jadeja are too crafty to confront them. Tamim, Shakib and Soumya must curb their aggressive instinct and play every ball according to their merits. We are not sure whether the present condition would let Mushfique keeping wickets. If not, Nurul Hasan can be in the side and Mushfique should not keep.

After playing against Southee, Boult and Wagner on hard bouncy tracks Bangladeshi batsmen must not worry much about Indian pacers though they must not relax.

Virat Kohli, Murali Vijay, Cheteswar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane are in top form. Even Indian tail wags these days almost regularly. But Bangladesh now possess a good enough bowling attack to cause concern to any batting unit. Mustafiz, Taskin and Rabbi may lead the attack. But depending on wicket Bangladesh may go with two pacers. If the wicket turns from day one Miraz, Shakib and if required Nasir and Mahmudullah would be handy. But Indians are so great playing spin that Bangladesh would have to bowl well and take all catches those come to their way to remain competitive.

One thing all Bangladeshis must bear in mind. Indians are world beaters in their own territory in cricket. Building castle from ashes can only be a dream. But we must stay on reality. In recent times, no team could win against them in tests. A good solid performance of Bangladesh extending the test to fifth day would be considered a huge achievement.

BDST: 1053 HRS, JAN 28, 2017
SR