Anatomy of an underdog
Whipping boys or wannabes
John Buchanan
09-Jul-2005
Whipping boys or wannabes? Australia's coach John Buchanan dissects England's latest opponents
 |
Habibul Bashar: aggressive and enjoys displaying his cuts and drives © Getty Images |
The make-up
As a team, Bangladesh are very small in stature. They do not have a single player who can impose themselves physically on the opposition. The players make little physical impression, to the extent that it is difficult for a sideline spectator to identify them under the anonymity of a batting helmet. Nor does their team have the benefit of right-hand/left-hand contrast, since only two of their tailenders, Manjural Islam and Mohammad Rafique, bat left-handed.
As a team, Bangladesh are very small in stature. They do not have a single player who can impose themselves physically on the opposition. The players make little physical impression, to the extent that it is difficult for a sideline spectator to identify them under the anonymity of a batting helmet. Nor does their team have the benefit of right-hand/left-hand contrast, since only two of their tailenders, Manjural Islam and Mohammad Rafique, bat left-handed.
The field marshals
Bangladesh show plenty of enthusiasm as a fielding team. Dav Whatmore describes Tapash Baisya as a spectacular fielder, and the skills of Javed Omar, Alok Kopali, Mohammad Ashraful and Sanwar Hossain - the latter two surpisingly omitted from the team's training camp squad - also stand out. On larger grounds, their outfield throwing and support play is exposed. Their catching is adequate and their ground fielding close to the wicket is probably their strongest feature. Fielding is one area in which, with Whatmore's help, they can make significant improvement and become more competitive.
Bangladesh show plenty of enthusiasm as a fielding team. Dav Whatmore describes Tapash Baisya as a spectacular fielder, and the skills of Javed Omar, Alok Kopali, Mohammad Ashraful and Sanwar Hossain - the latter two surpisingly omitted from the team's training camp squad - also stand out. On larger grounds, their outfield throwing and support play is exposed. Their catching is adequate and their ground fielding close to the wicket is probably their strongest feature. Fielding is one area in which, with Whatmore's help, they can make significant improvement and become more competitive.
The spin merchants
Rafique is their most experienced bowler and lends a steady influence to the side but needs help from the wicket to trouble quality batsmen. Ashraful and Kapali are tidy legspinners without being matchwinners - although Kapali could argue with that assessment since his hatrick against Pakistan almost secured their first Test victory. Their most impressive spinner was Hossain, whose action is under investigation.
Rafique is their most experienced bowler and lends a steady influence to the side but needs help from the wicket to trouble quality batsmen. Ashraful and Kapali are tidy legspinners without being matchwinners - although Kapali could argue with that assessment since his hatrick against Pakistan almost secured their first Test victory. Their most impressive spinner was Hossain, whose action is under investigation.
The top order
Bangladesh's batting may not always fire but it is the cornerstone of their game. Omar is an accomplished opener, even if his stats do not agree, and Hannan Sarkar is maturing into a gutsy player whose defence, approach and patience are the key ingredients to his game. Bashar, their No. 3, is the only player to have played in all Bangladesh's Test matches. He lives up to his name: he is aggressive enjoys displaying his cuts and drives; he'll also add the occasional pull shot to the mix.
Bangladesh's batting may not always fire but it is the cornerstone of their game. Omar is an accomplished opener, even if his stats do not agree, and Hannan Sarkar is maturing into a gutsy player whose defence, approach and patience are the key ingredients to his game. Bashar, their No. 3, is the only player to have played in all Bangladesh's Test matches. He lives up to his name: he is aggressive enjoys displaying his cuts and drives; he'll also add the occasional pull shot to the mix.
The style
Most of the batsmen (apart from Habibul Bashar) have a similar technique, playing back and waiting for short or bouncing deliveries. Bowling at people who play in the same style, and who are not imposing themselves, allows the bowler to settle into a real rhythm - a rhythm of control. The only danger to the fielding team is boredom: you might try to force situations, to make immediate results match expectations. Their batsmen's difficulty against spinners (even Darren Lehmann) exposed such poor technique and strategy that I would suggest there is a major deficiency in the structure of Bangladesh cricket.
Most of the batsmen (apart from Habibul Bashar) have a similar technique, playing back and waiting for short or bouncing deliveries. Bowling at people who play in the same style, and who are not imposing themselves, allows the bowler to settle into a real rhythm - a rhythm of control. The only danger to the fielding team is boredom: you might try to force situations, to make immediate results match expectations. Their batsmen's difficulty against spinners (even Darren Lehmann) exposed such poor technique and strategy that I would suggest there is a major deficiency in the structure of Bangladesh cricket.
The middle order
With Ashraful out of the squad, the pressure is on Rajin Saleh, only 19 years old but already proving himself a fighter and capable of taking international cricket's knocks without flinching. The rest of the batting centres on Hossain, the hard-working Kopali and the long-serving keeper Khaled Mashud. All these players have the ability to build innings with occasional wristy flair but find it difficult to maintain momentum against consistent bowling. But the more the Bangladeshis face quality bowling, the more adept their batsmen become at judging length.
With Ashraful out of the squad, the pressure is on Rajin Saleh, only 19 years old but already proving himself a fighter and capable of taking international cricket's knocks without flinching. The rest of the batting centres on Hossain, the hard-working Kopali and the long-serving keeper Khaled Mashud. All these players have the ability to build innings with occasional wristy flair but find it difficult to maintain momentum against consistent bowling. But the more the Bangladeshis face quality bowling, the more adept their batsmen become at judging length.
|
|
Mashrafe Mortaza: has the potential to be a strike bowler © Getty Images |
Mashrafe Mortaza, who turned 20 on Oct 5, has the potential to be a strike bowler for his side. Whatmore says that he "does everything at 100mph" and hopefully, with his guidance, Mortaza's initial forays into international cricket will improve - more than anything, he needs to find a new-ball partner.
The history
This is a side that boasts a home Test record of eight losses and one draw, with a team batting average of 18.70 and bowling average of 50.30. Their ODI stats are even worse - 28 home games, 27 losses mitigated only by one no-result, and team averages of 20.30 (batting) and 50.70 (bowling).
This is a side that boasts a home Test record of eight losses and one draw, with a team batting average of 18.70 and bowling average of 50.30. Their ODI stats are even worse - 28 home games, 27 losses mitigated only by one no-result, and team averages of 20.30 (batting) and 50.70 (bowling).
The verdict
England begin their tour of the subcontinent with question-marks over the keeping position as well as how to manage their fast-bowling balance in the Tests. They also need to decide whether to stand down one of the old guard of Butcher, Hussain and Thorpe for the less experienced but possibly more talented Paul Collingwood. With the inclusion of players like Strauss, Solanki, Blackwell and Kirtley it is England's ODI side that offers a glimpse of the future of English cricket. There should be little doubt that England will continue Bangladesh's miserable Test and ODI run; but we are all hoping to see further signs of the Banglas' improvement that was evident in Australia and in the recent Test series against Pakistan.
England begin their tour of the subcontinent with question-marks over the keeping position as well as how to manage their fast-bowling balance in the Tests. They also need to decide whether to stand down one of the old guard of Butcher, Hussain and Thorpe for the less experienced but possibly more talented Paul Collingwood. With the inclusion of players like Strauss, Solanki, Blackwell and Kirtley it is England's ODI side that offers a glimpse of the future of English cricket. There should be little doubt that England will continue Bangladesh's miserable Test and ODI run; but we are all hoping to see further signs of the Banglas' improvement that was evident in Australia and in the recent Test series against Pakistan.
Eight things you didn't know about Bangladesh
1 Bangladesh's national sport is Kabaddi - something you may already have known if you were a student in the 1990s, when Channel 4 used to screen it as part of their daytime programming. Two teams battle against each other in a field by capturing members of the opposing team, but the raider who enters the oppostion's half has to prove that he's not taking any breath in by continuously chanting "Kabaddi-kabaddi".
2 It is possible for children as young as 15 to be jailed for cheating in their exams.
3 If someone offers to buy you lunch in Bangladesh, don't give them the thumbs-up sign. That's an indication of rejection.
4 The country's sea-gypsy tribes use trained otters to catch fish.
5 During the Commonwealth Games in Manchester last year, Bangladesh had to withdraw from the 100m relay after the entire team disappeared from their camp.
6 Everyone is known by the nickname given by their mothers to protect them from the devil. These names are typically aspirational: Mahmud is called Sujon (good person), Bashar is Shumon (good mind), and Mashud is Pilot.
7 The worst sledge you can give a Bangladeshi is to call him a "Shaala" (brother-in-law). Even worse than calling him a "son of a dog". No, no-one knows why.
8 Bangladesh has the world's longest natural sea beach (almost 80 miles long), Cox's Bazar, at its southern tip.
The November 2003 edition of The Wisden Cricketer is on sale at all good newsagents in the UK and Ireland, priced £3.25. Click here to subscribe.