Tigers Only at Home?

[roaring tigerz]

The series win against New Zealand should definitely propel us to do bigger and better things in the future. The last decade has taught us that this isn't necessary true for Bangladesh cricket. This might be a good time for reflect on our cricket. How far have we really progressed? Where do we currently stand an international ODI team?

After this string of wins, whether we finally go on to achieve "consistency", that golden benchmark which all quality sides are measured by, we have to wait and see. It's pretty clear that given the right ingredients of condition, confidence and opposition, we can be a force to be reckoned with. We will always pose a threat on a slow track, against a team unsure about how to negotiate our barrage of slow left arm bowling.

This ploy could very well work in our favor during the world cup. Or at least that's what Siddons and the rest of Bangladesh are hoping for. But this also means we are bit of a one trick pony at this stage. We have seen that this strategy can go horribly wrong, even in our own backyard. For instance, in the tri-series earlier this year, our spinners were completely ineffective as a result of the evening dew. Our bowling got plundered and we lost by huge margins everytime.

On the flip side, how often have we managed to mount a challenge after the opposition has posted a score in excess of 250? I can remember Sophia Gardens and a couple of games against Zimbabwe. We are still quite satisfied with an "honorable defeat" after the other team posts a huge score. We cross our fingers and hope that Tamim heaves and thrashes everything which comes his way. Inevitably, he fails to score 300 on his own, and we give up the chase halfway through our overs. This deficiency is more glaring, with the rise of flat tracks and the inflation of average ODI scores.

So where really do we stand currently as an international ODI team?

[Habib]

Being tigers at home is also an improvement for us.

[billah]

roaring tigerz brings out some important isseus. I had to add my comments to this discussion

Originally Posted by roaring tigerz
We will always pose a threat on a slow track, against a team unsure about how to negotiate our barrage of slow left arm bowling. This ploy could very well work in our favor during the world cup. Or at least that's what Siddons and the rest of Bangladesh are hoping for. But this also means we are bit of a one trick pony at this stage. We have seen that this strategy can go horribly wrong, even in our own backyard. For instance, in the tri-series earlier this year, our spinners were completely ineffective as a result of the evening dew. Our bowling got plundered and we lost by huge margins everytime.

In reality, every team has it's own "Pony", happens to be "Consistency" in the case of the Aussies. "Inconsistency" belongs to the Pakis. If we have a fearsome SLA army, we have to be proud of it. It is our contribution to the legacy of world cricket. It is for other big nations to follow and learn from. Nothing to hide or be ashamed of. Our own trick, pays off handsomely, we love it. More SLA please - in my humble opinion.

Originally Posted by roaring tigerz
On the flip side, how often have we managed to mount a challenge after the opposition has posted a score in excess of 250? I can remember Sophia Gardens and a couple of games against Zimbabwe.

Often, low scoring matches are extremely difficult to win. Often we see the "skin of our teeth" pitched battle in below 250 matches. I would not accept that score a benchmark for "Challenging" game. The way we beat Sri Lanka to a pulp in the tri-series in a low scoring match is proof enough.

Originally Posted by roaring tigerz
We are still quite satisfied with an "honorable defeat" after the other team posts a huge score. We cross our fingers and hope that Tamim heaves and thrashes everything which comes his way. Inevitably, he fails to score 300 on his own, and we give up the chase halfway through our overs. This deficiency is more glaring, with the rise of flat tracks and the inflation of average ODI scores.

Actually, chasing large target is no longer done the way you describe above. It's done based on an algorithm produced by a program. The sloggers come in, with targeted runs and rr. As they progress, the strive to meet these targets after every over. As our team lose wickets, these new data is entered in to the program and strategy changes as the game progresses. The madness factor is taken out. If you see Tamim come in and hoik everything for a couple overs, much of it is actually planned that way, to keep in touch with the realities of chasing a big total.

Originally Posted by roaring tigerz
So where really do we stand currently as an international ODI team?

When an unknown Shane Bond, Irfan, Collingwood or a few others did well against Bangladesh early in their career, people said we were making this newbies into monsters. As it turned out, these were INDEED monsters. Take the so called "second tier" West Indies team. Roach is now causing fever in the Aussies. A large part of that team became regular with the present team, let alone the fact that some of the regular players actually were with this second tier team playing against us. I will never accept that "second-tier" propaganda promoted by the Indian press.

Considering the above, I would say, we are between #6 & #7 in ranking at present.