Playing Eleven for 1st Test?

[fwullah]

Is there any news on the 11-member squad? With all the tension of India coming/not coming, the actual cricket discussion was of little importance.

Habibul Bashar and Mashrafee Bin Murtoza to play in the eleven for sure, what about the rest? Is it going to be the same as the following?:

1. Nafees
2. Javed
3. Bashar
4. Rajin
5. Ashraful
6. Aftab
7. Mashud (wk)
8. Mushfiqur
9. Rafique
10. Mashrafee
11. Tapash

[Ehsan]

Take out Mushfiqur and get talha in, lets give him a chance and see how he does.

[mahbubH]

I think Talha and Aftab will not be in the first 11.

[Sam]

I want to remove Mushfiq and bring Rana in. In fact Aftab is the best replacement of Mushfiq in near future. Moreover, we need a partner for Rafiq, if the pitch starts to be spinner-friendly.
It will look like:
Javed Omar
Nafees Iqbal
*Habibul Bashar
Rajin Saleh
Mohammad Ashraf
Aftab Ahmed
+Khaled Mashud
Manjural Islam Rana
Mohammad Rafiq
Mashrafe bin Murtoza
Tapash Baishya

Edited on, December 7, 2004, 4:53 PM GMT, by Sam.

[Mr-khan]

My 1st 11:
1.Javed omar
2.Nafis iqbal
3.Rajin saleh
4.Ashraful
5.Habibul bashar
6.Aftab Ahmed
7.Khaled masud
8.Manjarul rana
9.Mohammed rafique
10.Taposh baishya
11.Mashrafee

[fwullah]

I didn't put Rana in place of either Aftab or Mushfique because I've been reading rumours(?) on the papers that the pitches will be a bit quick and batsman-friendly - NOT GIVING ANY CHANCE TO HARBHAJAN OR KUMBLE. So if the rumours are right, then Mushfique is ahead instead of Rana because of his seam bowling. And besides, even if this rumour is not correct, selectors are taking it that India is a good team for playing spin.

Ofcourse, I would have both Mushfique and Rana in my squad instead of 1 batsman Aftab, but I don't think there'll be place for 2 all-rounders in our side.

[Fazal]

All of a sudden Aftab is quickly beoming a all-rounder. Watch out Mushfique!!!

[Cricket46]

Instead of writing the playing 11, let me discuss which two might not be in the starting XI. I would certainly not like to see Mushfique when we have 3 specialist pace bowlers. However, I am not sure how ready Talha is for this test match. My feeling is that they will have him in the first match at least. I hate to say this, but Rana may be dropped in order to play Aftab so that we have 6 specialist batsmen. So, strangely enough, Mushfique and Rana may be the two non-playing members. If that be the case, then we will have 3 pace bowlers and 1 genuine spinner, but we will also have 2 back up spinners in Ashraful and Aftab. Also, Rajin can turn his arm around for a few overs. Besides our spinners will not have much effect on the Indian batsmen in any case. The only other option that I can think of is if they decide to play Rana instead of Aftab.

[chinaman]

Originally posted by Cricket46
.. we will also have 2 back up spinners in Ashraful and Aftab.

Umm, Aftab is a medium pacer.

[Beamer]

Aftab is a medium pacer, not a spinner. Plus, you need a batsman at the no.6 spot. Aftab will do that. Rana can come if they chose not to play Talha. Mushfique's chance of playing is very bleak.

[rafiq]

Aftab is not a spinner, but a medium pacer. He took wickets against NZ, and he can bat, I doubt they will leave him out.

[Cricket46]

Wow 3 replies in no time. Thanks for correcting me. In that case, I guess they will not drop Aftab. Probably, Talha will then do the drinks with Mushfique.

[AsifTheManRahman]

I'd play Rana if I were the coach...I mean that guy's batting is ideal for test cricket, and his spin might come in handy (albeit the fact that it's a batting friendly pitch...i mean then why care to keep rafique in the team if harbhajan and kumble are useless?)

I'd still preserve a seat for Aftab in the side bench. As for Mushfique, he should go play 1st division cricket. I had initially proposed Talha's introduction, but I'm not too sure that he will be abe to withstand all the pressure of playing India. The only reason I want to see him in the side though is because we need three quickies since the Indians are good against spin.

[Fazal]

why care to keep rafique in the team if harbhajan and kumble are useless?)

For his bat. Remember, who scored the last two centuries for Bangladesh?
Pilot and Rafique.

Edited on, December 7, 2004, 6:58 PM GMT, by Fazal.

[nihi]

Originally posted by rafiq
Aftab is not a spinner, but a medium pacer. He took wickets against NZ, and he can bat, I doubt they will leave him out.

I thought Aftab was a batsman who suddenly came to be known to bowl also, and that also with a bang. Nice turnaround

Edited on, December 7, 2004, 7:22 PM GMT, by nihi.

[Ahmed_B]

Originally posted by AsifTheManRahman
why care to keep rafique in the team if harbhajan and kumble are useless?....

what makes u think these three will be useless??

Rafiq is great in Test-bowling.. no matter wht kinda pitch it is.

n harbhajan/kumble will be 'great' becoz our batsmen will gift them their wickets! :P

so... u r wrong!

[Rubu]

I'd keep rana regardless of the pitch in the team, as he has proven in the past that he can always contribute, one way or another. bat or ball. don't see a chance for mushfique at all. so we are left with 12. out of these twelve, the fight will almost certainly be between talha and aftab. whether we want a better pace attack and lesser batting or better batting lesser pace. considering the current situations in recent past, i see aftab leaving talha behind. as aftab can bowl a bit too.

so tha pace attack is gonna be:

1. taposh
2. mashrafee
3. aftab

and the spin in:

1. rafique
2. rana
3. one part time (rajin/ashraful)

bowling does not look bad at all.

batting? lets see

1. javed omar: now make me wonder was asia cup fluke?
2. nafis: still good prospect unless he feels the urge to break afridi's ODI record in test.
3. Habibul Bashar: what comes after hand and leg? matha? if he does not break that, he is the best hope.
4. rajin: no one can question his position in test at least. just need to learn how to score big.
5. asharaful: in a bad patch? hope he can come out of that. if we are to scare india anyhow, he has to be the key.
6. aftab: yet to prove his position in the test.
7. pilot: mr. reliable. no comment needed.
8. rana: should contribute both way with bat and ball
9. rafique: no comment needed. we might even use him for opening.
10. mashrafee: if he can bat and ball like in premium league........
11. his 62 showed he can bat. just need to get back his fierceness in bowling.

damn, we have 11 genuin batsman and 6 bowlers.

[AsifTheManRahman]

in my opinion, tapash is probably one of the best quickies that bangladesh has ever had...and he's pretty quick too - can bowl at 135-140 on a regular basis.

i believe that leaving tapash out for ANYONE else will be suicide. tapash should always be an automatic choice, regardless of who comes back from injury.

same with masree. so now that we have two decent quickies, we should look for a third one, maybe in shafaq. i'm talking abt the future here.

rajib's also a bright prospect.

for the present, we don't have many quickies who can make a difference. i've always disliked talha, and don't see why so many people are crazy about him. i mean i've watched him get bashed like a b**ch on many occassions, and almost beg the batsmen to let him go...he's pace isn't very remarkable either - i wonder if he's as fast as tapash. i remember him bowling at a mere 130-132 a few years back.

sorry for going off topic.

[James90]

Javed
Nafis
Aftab
Bashar
Rajin
Ashraful
Mashud
Rana
Rafique
Tapash
Mashrafe

[bourny3]

My Batting Order
Javed
Rana
Bashar
Nafis
Ash
Rajin
Aftab
Mashud
Rafique
Tapash
Mashrafe

What does everyone think of Rana opening. I think he can do it. He has determination.

[James90]

But he doesn't have technique...movement and he's gone

[Rubu]

he is my 3rd favorite player in the team (ash>rafiq>rana....). and i don't like it when people call him that he lacks technique. i mean what is technique or whats the use of it if it does not generate runs (like alok) and why does it matter if player gets runs? rana actually did pretty good as a opener in odi, but then think tanks replaced him without giving enough chance. don't know what will happen if he's given the chance in test. his several innins before and the innings with ash in asia cup tell that he can stay calm under pressure. pushing him up the order actually might be a good idea, speically when early wickets has fallen.

[Ahmed_B]

Originally posted by AsifTheManRahman
in my opinion, tapash is probably one of the best quickies that bangladesh has ever had...and he's pretty quick too - can bowl at 135-140 on a regular basis....

small correction.. his average speed is 130-135.. with the bests being 135+

but I agree with u tht he is still an automatic selection. Not because of his raw pace.. but his intelligent bowling, variation, hard work, and ofcourse.. his solid fitness!!

after any bad over.. he just comes back sharp against the batsman in the very next... just never givs up!!

he is cool!

Edited on, December 8, 2004, 11:29 AM GMT, by crickethorizon.

[vv_sunil]

[i

damn, we have 11 genuin batsman and 6 bowlers.

but still struggle to score 200 runs!!!

[oracle]

Rana needs to concentrate on his bowling. Slower deliveries are needed from him now and not the hurried run up that he does when he is tense . He should consult with Rafique to get his bowling potential up to that level. Otherwise he will soon become redundant. Everyone in the team has to come up with a goodie in the team,. For Rana it is his spin option in the team. His batting is'nt a goodie and as such is a secondary matter..