fwullah
July 31, 2004, 12:37 PM
I am trying to give an example here. I have said it before and most of you know that Mushfique Babu is in my favorite players' list. Whether it is a good example or a bad one, it is upto you to decide.
We all know where he started from - he played his first matches during the last Pakistan tour, after a long-break of a few years. Then in the England tour, he was in tremendous touch, or may be just trying to impress Whatmore and the national selectors.
Then in the next 2 series, especially during the Asia Cup, some of his attitudes were wide open. Like for example, shouting at a bad fielding off his own bowling, whereas he misfielded on some occassions himself, off others bowling. I also saw this, and even though he is one of my favorite players, I could not help, but noticing the same attitude problem.
Another thing that went through my mind - especially after the last Asia Cup match, may be I am imagining things as I watch him very closely, but I observed that he was not batting properly in the first few games of the Asia Cup - he was somewhat irresponsible with the bat. Remember that he came in the side as an all-rounder, (which I used to think earlier that he is a batting all-rounder), but now - after watching his stats today on the Internet, I discovered it that he is currently the most economical bowler in Bangladesh - 4.28 runs, to be exact.
Anyway, the thing that I noticed about his batting is that he was not playing responsibly with the bat in the first few games, but then after he was dropped, and then returned to the team, possibly for his good bowling (not to mention the pitch-factor during the last match - it was a seamer's pitch), only then did he score some runs - 21 runs off 65 balls!
Now why is that? Why is it that he had to be dropped to get the best out off him?
I think that this disease is present among most of the current players. My question is, why are they so relaxed - not giving their hundred percent everytime?
We all know where he started from - he played his first matches during the last Pakistan tour, after a long-break of a few years. Then in the England tour, he was in tremendous touch, or may be just trying to impress Whatmore and the national selectors.
Then in the next 2 series, especially during the Asia Cup, some of his attitudes were wide open. Like for example, shouting at a bad fielding off his own bowling, whereas he misfielded on some occassions himself, off others bowling. I also saw this, and even though he is one of my favorite players, I could not help, but noticing the same attitude problem.
Another thing that went through my mind - especially after the last Asia Cup match, may be I am imagining things as I watch him very closely, but I observed that he was not batting properly in the first few games of the Asia Cup - he was somewhat irresponsible with the bat. Remember that he came in the side as an all-rounder, (which I used to think earlier that he is a batting all-rounder), but now - after watching his stats today on the Internet, I discovered it that he is currently the most economical bowler in Bangladesh - 4.28 runs, to be exact.
Anyway, the thing that I noticed about his batting is that he was not playing responsibly with the bat in the first few games, but then after he was dropped, and then returned to the team, possibly for his good bowling (not to mention the pitch-factor during the last match - it was a seamer's pitch), only then did he score some runs - 21 runs off 65 balls!
Now why is that? Why is it that he had to be dropped to get the best out off him?
I think that this disease is present among most of the current players. My question is, why are they so relaxed - not giving their hundred percent everytime?