Mohammad Rafique and Khalid Mashud: How will they cope in test 2 ?

[Mujibur]

Khalid Mashud averages 19.40 in tests; Mohammed Rafique averages 20.18 in tests. They were both centurions in the recently concluded first test.

When was the last time batsmen with such meager averages scored test hundreds ?



Mashud's debut hundred was vital in leading Bangladesh to a draw. Had he fallen early on day 5, it would have been trouble for his team.

In my estimation, the Man Of The Match in the first test should have been Mohammed Rafique.

Not only did Rafique score a good hundred in the first inning, batting at #9 but he also delivered with the ball, taking 3 wickets. His wicket haul included Chanderpaul and Smith.

How will centurions Mashud and Rafique cope on the faster Jamaica wicket in the second test ?

Can Bangladesh make 150 on that wicket ? I am curious to read your responses.

[rafiq]

OK, mujibur I couldn't sleep all last night as I was thinking about your queries. These questions are of the utmost importance and I am glad you have asked them. This morning, I checked with the crystal ball I have hidden in the attic. This is what the crystal ball told me, I kid you not:

1. All previous Bangladeshi centuries, with the exception of Bashar, have been scored by batsmen with "meager averages" so the exact answer to your question is:

119 Javed Omar v Pakistan at Peshawar, 2nd Test, 2003

The Oxford Cricket Dictionary defines "meager average" as "any average less than 25.00" and as such all centurions other than Bashar can correctly be described as having "meager averages".

2. Centurions Rafique and Mashud will face an older ball at Sabina Park in the first innings and will score 34 and 7, respectively.

They will fare better in the second innings and will score 55 and 12, respectively. Both will have to negotiate a new ball as Bangladesh will have a long second innings, defying expectations. Centurion Rafique's (we will from now on refer to him in this manner) negotiations with the new ball will lead to increased calls for him to open ODIs from banglacricket.com members. BC purists will pooh-pooh the idea.

3. Bangladesh will not make 150 in the first innings. They will be all out for 147 despite Centurion Rafique's 34. Bangladesh will score much, much more in the second innings - I cannot disclose the exact number of runs at this time as we must not demoralize our West Indian friends before the match even begins.

I hope this puts your mind to ease for now.



[Edited on 2-6-2004 by rafiq]

[sujon]

one thing for sure, pilot is the fighter in our team. he stood on his feet in countless times when we were in bother.

[Mujibur]

Rafiq:

If you ever choose to part with that Crystal ball of yours, rather than auctioning it off on Ebay, I would be most willing to pay you a handsome premium for it.

I could not have agreed more with the wonderful and seemingly accurate prognostications of that crystal ball.

[billah]

Rafiq bhai, marhaba, lajawab, keya baat hai. Now, please accept Mujibur's offer. I would love to supply you with more of them things.:P

[EngWIndian]

Originally posted by sujon
one thing for sure, pilot is the fighter in our team. he stood on his feet in countless times when we were in bother.

i agree, he took some serious blows from Tino and Edwards, but still he stood up and batted on. Its a shame his century did not go for a winning cause.

[EngWIndian]

Can Bangladesh make 150 on that wicket ?

in 1st innings yes, but not so sure about the 2nd.

[Orpheus]

mujibur.. do you take drugs?

[Mujibur]

Originally posted by Orpheus
mujibur.. do you take drugs?

Why do you ask ?

Cialis, Viagra and levitra!!!!

[Mujibur]

I am expecting Mohammad Rafique to have a superb game with both bat and ball in Jamaica.

Does anyone share my view ?

[Zunaid]

Originally posted by Mujibur

I am expecting Mohammad Rafique to have a superb game with both bat and ball in Jamaica.

Does anyone share my view ?

You are more optimistic than I. I'm not sure how effective he will be in the hard/bouncy Sabina Park test.

HIs test 5-fers have been on sub-continental pitches:

Bangabandhu National Stadium, Dhaka (BD): 3 matches, 14 wickets, avg 24.14
Arbab Niaz Stadium, Peshawar (Pak): 1 match, 5 wickets, avg 30.40
Multan Cricket Stadium (Pak): 1 match, 7 wickets, 16.57

His other matches have been at:

Chittagong Stadium (BD): 5 wickes, avg 33.80
National Stadium, Karachi (Pak): 1 match, 5 wickets, 27.40
Buffalo Park, East London (SA): 1 match, 0 wickets
Beausejour Stadium, Gros Islet, St Lucia (WI): 1 match, 3 wickets, 32.33
Harare Sports Club (Zim): 1 match, 6 wickets, 30.50
Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo (Zim): 1 match, no wickets (this was rain shortened)

Of all the pitches, only the SAfrican pitch is comparable. But one must take his with a grain of salt - this was his comeback match after being out in the wilderness for over 2 years. This was in the 2002/03 tour and he had last played for Bangladesh in its First ever Test v India in 2000/01.

On the other hand, his economy rate is remarkable in being between 2.3-2.6 range at all the matches (SA is an outlier).

He may yet get wickets (for himself, or the other bowler) by getting batsmen tied down and goading them into impatient shots.

As for batting, he has been showing more and more heart - his ability is much more than what his average shows.

[Edited on 3-6-2004 by Zunaid : tpyoes]

[deshibhai]

Here is a quote from Khaled Masud in today's Daily Star:

-----begin quote:
Mashud revealed he played mind games with the West Indian fielders.

"I always keep myself calm in the middle by talking and cracking a joke or two with the opposing fielders. The West Indies players also get easy with me knowing me. That worked in my favour.

"As for the hundred, I just told myself that I had a job to do and was more focused on seeing the team to safety."
-----end quote----------------

I do not know if Masud's attempts to "play mind games with" the West Indies players actually had any effect on them, but what I found very encouraging about the above was that Masud felt he was mentally on top. This is something new for Bangladeshi players--in the past, they've been more used to being mentally reactive, rather than proactive...defensive, rather than in the driver's seat. Regardless of whether you actually manage to mentally outwit the opponent, if you can reasonably feel that you are doing so, you have won half the battle. Both in batting and in bowling, cricket is all about mentally outwitting the opponent--and every little tool you develop to help you do that is yet another armament in your arsenal.

Very encouraging, imho.

[Edited on 3-6-2004 by deshibhai]

[crickwizard]

is it worth to reply sagol marka question if BD can score 150 at Sabina park? Didn't some mental asked question abt what would be BD score in first test when BD scored only 161 against WIXI? This is cricket Stupid, any team can score as low as 50 (WI scored 47 few weeks ago on this very field). If you can't bear the sprite of first test, don't whine here and cause nuisance

[Orpheus]

cricwiz....

I am just glad I enjoyed this post before its deletion
... LOL

must be side effects of the drugs!

[Edited on 3-6-2004 by Orpheus]

[Mujibur]

Zunaid:

The Mujibur handle will soon be banned by Mr. Rajputro---he is very irritated at Mujibur.

Anyway, before I am banned I wish to inform you that spinners have also done well at the Sabina park wicket in the past.

I remember WI spinner Perry spinning the WI to victory against Australia a few years back.

And against SA in 2001, WI spinner Ramnarine helped the WI win a match.

The West Indies will do well in their first inning----if Bangldesh can keep things close in the first inning they will have a shot.

The WI has a proclivity for folding in their second inning.

If Bangladesh can score 225 in their first inning----it will be a good match for them.

Once again, Rajputro has threaten to ban Mujibur.

Good luck friends. It was nice posting here.

[Moderator: deleted]



[Moderator comment: Name calling just exhausts any amount of good-will we may have had]

[Edited on 3-6-2004 by Zunaid]

[Mujibur]

RAJIN SALEH---LOOKS LIKE A BATSMAN WITH POTENTIAL





Saleh averages 28.33 after 8 tests. He is constantly improving.

I like his demeanor at the wicket.

[Ahmed_B]

whts wrong with u buddy?
u don like peace or something?

WELL EVERY MEMBER OUT HERE DOES!!!

[Edited on 3-6-2004 by crickethorizon]

[Ahmed_B]

Originally posted by EngWIndian

in 1st innings yes, but not so sure about the 2nd.

Here... we got another one on drugs!! :duh:

[Mujibur]

Originally posted by crickethorizon
whts wrong with u buddy?
u don like peace or something?

WELL EVERY MEMBER OUT HERE DOES!!!

CricketHorizon:

I just posted that the Sabina Park wicket has assisted spinners in the past and that ought to bode well for Bangladesh's spinners.

DO YOU CARE TO MAKE A CRICKET RELATED COMMENT IN THIS THREAD ?

Are you folks serious about cricket ?

May Bangladesh win her first test match soon.

[Ahmed_B]

Originally posted by Mujibur
DO YOU CARE TO MAKE A CRICKET RELATED COMMENT IN THIS THREAD ?

Are you folks serious about cricket ?

May Bangladesh win her first test match soon.

Nops!!:P
right now i think, like me, many of us are seriously more concerned about u!!.. u r putting up quite a show man!

u urself hav been posting completely wayward comments in ur own post!!:P
even calling decent guys on names!!:duh:
so lets say... for now... i will hav my lences focussed on you and just you.. no more cricket..!..
lets enjoy the 'tribal' dance!

[EngWIndian]

Oops...



DOH!:duh:

[Mujibur]

MUJIBUR IS VERY WORRIED ABOUT HANNAN SARKAR


Let us take a look at Sarkar last eight scores: 28, 4, 4, 10, 25, 0, 9

How about Sarkar being dropped down the batting order ? He is clearly a liability at the top ?

[Beamer]

mujibor,
ashen bhai bangla bhashay kotha boli.
ekta proshno? dhaka krira-ongon er duita shob cheye boro club er nam ki? shohoj proshno, ami bhuley gesi tai apnake jiggesh korchi, abar kichu mind koren na.

[Mujibur]

Originally posted by Beamer
mujibor,
ashen bhai bangla bhashay kotha boli.
ekta proshno? dhaka krira-ongon er duita shob cheye boro club er nam ki? shohoj proshno, ami bhuley gesi tai apnake jiggesh korchi, abar kichu mind koren na.

Beamer:

You are obviously a man of profound wisdom.

Now let me continue with my cricket posts.

I have a feeling Capt Habibul will win the toss in Jamaica.

Should be bat first or bowl ?

[EngWIndian]

Originally posted by Beamer
mujibor,
ashen bhai bangla bhashay kotha boli.
ekta proshno? dhaka krira-ongon er duita shob cheye boro club er nam ki? shohoj proshno, ami bhuley gesi tai apnake jiggesh korchi, abar kichu mind koren na.

Bitte betr. prase Ihr Absatz, habe ich keinen Anhaltspunkt, was es sagt! ich auch habe keinen Anhaltspunkt wie, Deutsch zu sprechen, aber die freie Übersetzungsstelle kommt sehr handlich herein.