Bangladesh Vs West Indies First Test at Sir IVA Richards Stadium, Antigua

Brief Scorecard at Stumps Day Two

Bangladesh 43 All Out ( Liton 25, Roach 5/8 , Cummins 3/11 , Holder 2/10) and 62/ 6 ( Mahmudullah 15* , Gabriel 4/36, Holder 2/15      ) , West Indies 406 All Out ( C Baraithwaite 121 ,

Bangladesh Trails by 301 Runs With 4 Second Innings Wickets at Hand

The Antigua test has not even reached half of the way. Yet the test is almost over. Another ignominy of embarrassing innings defeat is looking for Bangladesh. It is calamitous batting of Bangladesh which has led Bangladesh to this situation.

Top order of Bangladesh team again showed poor application, poor commitment, lack of skill and technique crushing under the wheels of quality West Indian pace attack. 62/6 in the second innings in the second innings on the back drop of 43 all out in the first innings evidenced that the match could be all over on day two if Holder did not want to give his batsmen batting practice. West Indies scored 406 in their first innings proved that there is no demon in the wicket. This West Indies team in the very last test was bundled out below 100 against Sri Lanka only a few days back.

One must not need to go look into in depth analysis. A look into Bangladesh batting of top 5 would tell the story.

This West Indies team does not have Marshal, Roberts, Holding and Garner. Roach, Gabriel, Holder and Cummins are just establishing themselves. This team also does not have Greeindge, Haynes, Richards, Rowe, Lara and Lloyd. Baraithwaite , Powell ,Hope , Chase and Dorwitch are very new . They together have not played as many tests as each of Tamim, Shakib ,Mushfique and Mahmudullah played . Hence there can not be any excuse of wickets and conditions. If West Indies can score 406 in their innings Bangladesh playing terribly poorly in both innings has no explanation. Yes it can happen once but when seasoned professionals make similar mistakes repeatedly questions arises about attitude. Bangladesh cricket is looking down the barrel.

Intelligent persons learn from mistakes. Bangladesh made terrible mistakes in the first innings .Tamim, Mominul, Mushfique, Shakib , Mahmudullah did not have any footworks in the first innings . Mushfique had wide gaps between bad and pad. In the second innings also they made same mistakes and they manner they all got out were mere carbon copies. At 60/6 in the second innings and Mahmudullah escaping exit only for front foot no ball of Cummins it could all over if umpire allowed few additional overs.

On the same wicket where twice cream of Bangladesh batting was dismantled and decimated less experienced West Indian batsmen batted with authority .Six of their batsmen scored between 33 and 121. Four partnerships were 50 or more. Opener Braithwaite played another wonderful innings of 121. Hope (67), Power (48) showed their growing maturity. Experienced Smith scored 58, Holder and Raoch scored 33 each. Only consolation of the test so far was good bowling by Jayed, Miraj and Shakib in the post lunch session of the second day. Otherwise West Indies could have scored 500 or more .DebulatntJayed took 3/84, Miraj 3/ 101 and Shakib 2/71.

Jeffrey Dujon in post match thought Holder delayed the declaration for giving his batsmen some practice for the second test and ODI series. Had he declared at tea the test could be over by stumps?

When Bangladesh batted second time the destroyer of the first innings Khemar Roach was not available. But Shannon Gabriel who had a quite first innings took charge for crushing Bangladesh with his pace and movement. Again Bangladesh top order batted like raw novice. I am sure Tamim, Liton, Mominul ,Mushfique and Shakib would be themselves ashamed the manner they got out .Even school boys and women cricketers have better techniques. Somehow the minds of Bangladeshi batsmen are not in the game. It appeared that green wicket surface panicked them. It was really disgraceful performance. At stumps Bangladesh was 62/6. Could be worse if Cummins front foot did not cross the return crease .Mahmudullah was a goner. Gabriel took 4/36 and Holder 2/15.

Bangladesh admirers have every reason believing that something is very wrong with the team. There was some unconfirmed information of match fixing of Afghanistan Bangladesh T20 against some top players. The team looked mentally and morally devastated.

I always discus with Aminul Bulbul in Melbourne, Farhad Tito In Canada and share thoughts with my froendDrMaungKyaw in Norway about our cricket. All got shocked and awed. Bangladesh is definitely capable of playing much better.  But why seasoned professionals are playing so poorly. Bulbul is cricket Icon; Tito is one the brilliant Sports Writer Bangladesh ever produced. Maung is one of top cricket analyst Ihave ever come across.

But in any case I am also enjoying the gradual improvement of West Indies in all format of cricket. Hope this present crop of young cricketers would soon grow to their all time best in course of time.

There is definite problem with attitude now. Who is managing the team on the tour? Will BCB own this disaster? Complete mismanagement of BCB is taking Bangladesh Cricket to the edge. There is no accountability at all in Cricket administration.

BDST: 1401 HRS, JUL 06, 2018

AH