DHAKA: March 15, 2017, will be heralded as a major milestone in the test cricket history of Bangladesh. Shell-shocked Bangladesh after a massive defeat at Galle will have to bounce back proving better competitive and make the occasion memorable.

The team definitely has better potential to extend home team to the limit. We won’t be surprised if Bangladesh surprise the home side at Colombo where past records of Bangladesh was so poor that these better not be revisited.

It took Bangladesh 17 years playing 100 tests. Leading teams played about 200 tests in the meantime. Teams can only grow in competence playing more often against quality opposition. Unfortunately, ICC FTP provides fewer opportunities for lower tier members playing bilateral series. Bangladesh, of course, also could not organize quality longer version domestic cricket. Much more emphasis is given on shorter versions like ODI and T20. Yet producing players like Mashrafe, Ashraful, Habibul Bashar, Rafique, Tamim, Shakib, Mushfique, Mahmudullah, Mustafiz, Rubel, and Taskin is not less achievement.

Unfortunately, recurring injuries restricted charismatic Mashrafe to limited overs only. The present squad is arguably the best that Bangladesh have offered in test cricket so far. Tamim, Mushfique, and Shakib are among the top playing test cricket now. Mustafiz, Mehedi Miraz, and Taskin, with maturity, would win many tests for Bangladesh. Imrul Kayes and Mominul are two quality players. Mahmudullah, maybe in off form for a while in tests, is also one of the main pillars of Tigers’ success.

Bangladesh will have a sweet dilemma for selecting the playing 11. Mominul and Mahmudullah maybe rested bringing in Imrul Kayes and Sabbir in their place. Liton’s injury will open opportunity for potential youngster Mosaddek in the team. Colombo wicket will offer more assistance to both pace and spin. Bangladesh will be better served playing three pacers. Kamrul Rabbi may join Mustafiz and Taskin. Rabbi can resist at the tail end with the bat in addition to his exploits with the new ball.

Bangladesh, to reap the harvest at Colombo, must bat better. The top order must click. Tamim, Shakib, Kayes, and Mushfique must shoulder the responsibility of batting longer and producing at least two to three large partnerships. Bangladesh must bat for at least five sessions in the first innings and produce at least 450-run letting the bowlers defend. In the second innings, batting must not crumble the way it did in Galle. A good competitive performance at the Century test might herald a new beginning for Bangladesh.

My Team

Tamim, Soumya, Kayes, Mosaddek, Mushfique, Shakib, Sabbir, Miraz, Rabbi, Taskin and Mustafiz

BDST: 0847 HRS, MAR 15, 2017
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