rimon88
February 12, 2009, 05:08 PM
It is time that Bangladesh team captaincy should seriously explore the psychological aspects of the game. In the process of a close games in immediate past few matches of last two years captaincy was severely lacking the psychological input in the timely need of the game. If only batting, bowling and fielding can win and lose the matches there won't be any unforgettable games in cricket.
For instance, in the Tri-series final Bangladesh vs. Sri Lanka match up to 45th over it was in a balance if not slightly leaning favorably towards Bangladeshi side. Kulasekara was out by Sakib Al Hasan and Sri Lankan side was 114 for 8 and their side needed 39 runs from 36 balls. This is the time for Bangladesh side to impose psychological advantage on the opposition. The captaincy has to realize the enormous implication of the process of the game in this very point of the match. Next 3 overs will decide which side is psychologically superior. Muralitharan just got in to lead - it’s a psychological input in part of Sri Lanka. And the ball is in Bangladesh's court to call. Now Bangladesh can put a bowler who has a bowling econ close to 2 or who has more success taking wickets. So our option was Shakib Al hasan with bowling econ 2.20 or Naeem Islam with bowling econ 2.63. But it was never Rubel Hossain with bowling econ 3.31. Moreover he is a rookie. You cannot put a rookie in that stage of the game to perform. His performance drastically reduces because of the pressure that impairs his mental strength. He is not ready to take that load. Captaincy has to understand it is a process. But the best possible psychological input would be Mohammad Ashraful. Both sides would have their captaincy face off each other with tremendous psychological pressure on each other. It's a game - you pull out all the weapons on the field. Imran khan used to do it. When the game is in its critical moment he will pick up the ball.
He is still one of the best psychological guru of the game we call cricket. All the statistics, all the specialist are there to assist the captaincy to have an edge in the psychological game plan. Bangladesh captaincy should explore these options to take an informative decision in time. It takes leadership skills. More or less it takes heart of a leader to act.
For instance, in the Tri-series final Bangladesh vs. Sri Lanka match up to 45th over it was in a balance if not slightly leaning favorably towards Bangladeshi side. Kulasekara was out by Sakib Al Hasan and Sri Lankan side was 114 for 8 and their side needed 39 runs from 36 balls. This is the time for Bangladesh side to impose psychological advantage on the opposition. The captaincy has to realize the enormous implication of the process of the game in this very point of the match. Next 3 overs will decide which side is psychologically superior. Muralitharan just got in to lead - it’s a psychological input in part of Sri Lanka. And the ball is in Bangladesh's court to call. Now Bangladesh can put a bowler who has a bowling econ close to 2 or who has more success taking wickets. So our option was Shakib Al hasan with bowling econ 2.20 or Naeem Islam with bowling econ 2.63. But it was never Rubel Hossain with bowling econ 3.31. Moreover he is a rookie. You cannot put a rookie in that stage of the game to perform. His performance drastically reduces because of the pressure that impairs his mental strength. He is not ready to take that load. Captaincy has to understand it is a process. But the best possible psychological input would be Mohammad Ashraful. Both sides would have their captaincy face off each other with tremendous psychological pressure on each other. It's a game - you pull out all the weapons on the field. Imran khan used to do it. When the game is in its critical moment he will pick up the ball.
He is still one of the best psychological guru of the game we call cricket. All the statistics, all the specialist are there to assist the captaincy to have an edge in the psychological game plan. Bangladesh captaincy should explore these options to take an informative decision in time. It takes leadership skills. More or less it takes heart of a leader to act.