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Old March 12, 2015, 07:21 AM
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epitaph epitaph is offline
Test Cricketer
 
Join Date: July 18, 2007
Posts: 1,394

Maintain the same level of bowling and on-field captaincy from England game. Fielding needs to be at least of the same level.

We're still batting at 80% capacity due to top order (1-3) collapses. Top order needs to deliver this time. Batting has only been OK so far, not good. And it's been OK because our middle order has been bailing us out. Mushy consistently delivers these days (he's effectively a WC batsman now) and is joined by someone else like Riyad or Shakib to take us to a fighting total, but we need to do better.

See out the first 3-5 overs. Let the ball lose its shine, and use that time to get set. 3 RR is fine till then. That's exactly what they needed to do vs England, and that's what they need to do vs NZ. Against England, the ball didn't swing longer than that. It was a good batting pitch afterwards. (Of course, this time, they'll be facing the world's best attack.)

Selection needs to improve. Kayes at top order needs to be replaced with Nasir at lower-middle order. An extra opener, esp of Imrul's caliber, does us no good. We just lose an extra wicket (we essentially play with one batsman short) and create more pressure for the middle order right at the start. That's the main change that needs to happen, and Taijul should replace Arafat.

Getting McCullum and Williamson out early is key obviously. Our coaches have plans for them. I wonder if we'll open with spin. That might be a good idea. Their batting isn't that impressive once those two are gone.

If we can do the above, we can win. But that's a lotta if's. If we play to our potential or close to it, it'll be a competitive game though. They have the best bowling attack, but a score of 300 isn't necessary to beat them.
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