My Speculation: Ashraful is getting ready to open Again

[cricman]

I know this match is old but Ash opening is not a good sign and with Everyone else who Tamim Opens with forgets there OffStump is Coach 240 gonna put in the Ultimate Gamble and give him the Right to commit Hara-Kari any time he wishes

UNB, Dhaka

The national cricketers, now attending a camp for their ensuing Australia tour, played a practice match Tuesday at the Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium (SBNS).

In the 25-over per side match, Alok Kapali-led Bangladesh Red team earned a one-run victory over Mohammad Ashraful-led Bangladesh Green team.

Batting first after winning the toss, Bangladesh Red team scored 131 for 6 in 25 overs with skipper Kapali contributing team highest 37 runs off 49 balls that featured four fours and a six. Left-handed opener Mehrab Hossain Jr. made 36 off 71 balls with one boundary.

Right-arm off spinner Mahmudullah Riyadh and Shahadat Hossain Razib captured three wickets each for 17 and 25 runs respectively.

In reply, Bangladesh Green team fell one run short, as they were restricted to 130 for 3 in 25 overs with Riyadh top scoring 67 runs off 74 balls that included nine fours.

Ashraful opened the innings to score 34 runs, while former skipper Habibul Bashar made 16. Abdur Razzak Raj remained not out on 1.

Mehrab Hossain Jr. and Kamrul took one wicket each.

I think he opened vs the Acedemy Side as well


Mr. Siddons, I beg of you NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO ... While Seeing Ash and Tamim together at the crease makes me go Umpa Umpa, I'd rather you get Rafique out of retirement and let open if the 2nd opener position is that dire You Have Rokon, Hanan Sarkar a bunch of other cricketers ... I'd let Tushar open just not Ash ... You let him open his than it is the ultimate Make or Break point of his career and your gonna let open vs Brett Lee in Australia?

Like I said ultimate Make or Break, This Could be our Saurav/Sachin Team or this might as well be Bangladesh announce there new Captain in 3 months

[BD-Shardul]

Bad news!

[bangla-red]

I think Ashraful will be great in this opener slot (or at least better than Nazimuddin and Nafees).
You would have:

Tamim
Ashraful
Raqibul
Shakib
Alok
Rahim (wk)
Ghosh (he could be specialist first slip that we desperately need), or Aftab (late slogger)
Mortaza
Mahmudallah
Razzak
Shahadat

[Sadz]

Just because he opened in that match it doesnt mean he will for the aussie tour, their probably wasnt a capable batsman for the opening slot and they probably thought ash would last the whole innings which off course he didnt.

[BD-Shardul]

Originally Posted by bangla-red
I think Ashraful will be great in this opener slot (or at least better than Nazimuddin and Nafees).

Bhaijan money hoy Otiter kechcha-kahini janen na.

[Abid_Khan]

I think Siddons is just experimenting to see which batsmen can do his best in which position but any fool would no that Ashraful isn't the opener type. (my opinion any way)

[Sadz]

wwelcome to BC Abid

[BD-Shardul]

Originally Posted by Abid_Khan
I think Siddons is just experimenting to see which batsmen can do his best in which position but any fool would no that Ashraful isn't the opener type. (my opinion any way)

Welcome to BC Abid Khan.

You got a nice avatar.

[Tigers_eye]

Why isn't he the best BD batsman? Where is the logic on giving the best batsman the most amount of balls to play? This is only a 50 over match. Opening slot is our one of the main problem. Who better to address that than the captain himself?

Are you saying Ash can't play Brett Lee/Johnson? How about Alok Kapali then? Lately there is a boom in threads featuring him. Fans want to see exciting cricket.

We want AAA!! We want AAA!! Better demote Tamim with Shakib. Let the AAA play their natural game. It is bound to get one of the AAA a fifty in fifty matches.

[Sohel]

Before writing off the Tamim and Zunaed combo, something with great potential as long as Zunaed is allowed to harness and add to his natural game rather than be in "two minds", I'd have Ash settle-in at number 3 first.

He does see the ball early enough to be a good opener. Then again, "natural talent" has never been the issue with him.

Application, application, application.

[AsifTheManRahman]

Doesn't matter where he bats if it isn't an Eid day.

[Beamer]

Remember that the match was 25 overs a side. He may have opened because of that. I doubt he will open in regular 50 over matches.

Rafique? He was becoming clueless against pace bowling even before he retired. To have him come back to the side to open in Australia is pretty much suicidal. I am not against him coming back. But, not as an opener, but as a bowler who gives 10 solid overs and a lower order batsman.

Tamim should see Aftab as his opening partner. He will do better than the likes of Nazim and Z. Hannan, Rokon? NO.

1.tamim 2 aftab 3 Ash 4 Rakib 5 Sakib 6 Alok - top six

[sbsash]

Originally Posted by bangla-red
I think Ashraful will be great in this opener slot (or at least better than Nazimuddin and Nafees).
You would have:

Tamim
Ashraful
Raqibul
Shakib
Alok
Rahim (wk)
Ghosh (he could be specialist first slip that we desperately need)
Mortaza
Mahmudallah
Razzak
Shahadat

I think they should use Aftab as opener and Tushar to replace Alok.
My team for AUS Tour
1.Tamim
2.Aftab
3.Ashraful (c)
4.Rokibul
5.Tushar Imran/Alok (Alok: Bowler #6)
6.Sakib (Bowler #4)
7.Mushfiq (wk)
8.Mahmadulla (Bowler #5)
9.Mashrafe (Bowler #1)
10.Razzak (Bowler #3)
11.Nazmul/Rasel (Bowler #2)

[Sadz]

I agree with Beamer, I have been saying quite a long time ago that Aftab should open with Tamim Iqbal because we have to face the fact that No-one else can do a good job at the moment. Junaid has been incredibly poor, Nazim hasnt played very well either in the England tour although considerably better than big Z and SN well what can i say. With Aftab and Tamim opening it would leave Alok or Riyad or someone else to be drafted in and with the two openers rotating the strike we could be pretty deadly!

[al Furqaan]

i agree with beamer as well (as almost always). aftab's ability to play pace has already been mentioned, and the lack of a number 2 makes it a no-brainer.

[SS]

So Ashraful wants to be an openner...hmm whom he will play like SN (kocha maira out), Belim(copy book compact defense shot), Zunaid(Jarur bari outside or too tough to react to the incoming balls) or like our recrod holder Hannan Sarkar (hatrick in zero).

[sbsash]

Originally Posted by SS
So Ashraful wants to be an openner...hmm whom he will play like SN (kocha maira out), Belim(copy book compact defense shot), Zunaid(Jarur bari outside or too tough to react to the incoming balls) or like our recrod holder Hannan Sarkar (hatrick in zero).

What do you mean hattrick in zero?

[Rommel]

I say bring in Mehrab Hossain Jr. Yes I know that he scores slow but we don't really need another attacker. Tamim would make sure that the run rate is decent and I believe that Mehrab has the mindset of building partnerships which is ultimately what we need. Plus I don't want to see Nazimuddin try to hit a 6 in the 2nd over and get out. Mehrab doesn't really try to play too many risky shots which is good for an opener.

[cricman]

To Bad Aftab is still injured and Golla Jr Shouldn't play List A Cricket, I'd give Golla Jr a Shot against the Kiwis in a Test Match if Juniad and SN continue to Falter.

That Leads to the Present and Ash and Opening, Lets play Faraque or is Alam now? for a Minute ... and I'd think he would say Nazim, SN and Juniad are Garbage at the moment, (Personally I would play SN) ... That leaves me with Golla Jr and Ash

This is the Team that will play the 1st ODI vs Australia, my Hunch

Tamim
Ash
Mushifiq
Raqibul
Sakib
Kapali
Dhiman (WK)
Farhad
Masri
Razzak
Rajib

[akabir77]

I think its a great idea. cause he is our best batsmen against pace attack.
But will it work? thats some thing to find out.

at least now he plays a lot different so may be it will work!!!

[Rifat]

truth be told: "mr 50" /Tamim Iqbal doesn't score 50 every ODI he plays(i don't blame him, kid trying his best )...
Nazimuddin only notable innings was 47 against Sri Lanka in asia cup...
Shahriar Nafees? let him keep on playing with the national team, his "eid" will eventually inshallah come.

Ashraful was the virtual opener anyways...

if Bangladesh think tank were to use this strategy, why not bring back Aftab Ahmed as an opener and keep Ashraful to use # 3 spot...since about 14 out of the 15 ODI's we play, a wicket falls within the first 5 overs we play.

our strategy should be this: first 15 overs get close to 90-100 runs...use the powerplay.

third powerplay, take 25-35 more runs... the other 20 overs? just survive the wicket.
the last ten overs, get 70 runs...

using this strategy, we automatically have a good shot at 240+ score, and bowlers should do their job.

another truth be told: our international oppenents are simply too strong, thus we blame ashraful and co. for their consistent failures, though it is agreeable that in about 5 out of 30 ODI's we lose per year, it is because of poor effort from all departments of the game.

[Beamer]

Z hasn't done anything yet that calls for him to be dropped from the test side. Against Kiwis in tests, he opens with Tamim. Their test record together in short period of time has been good.

[simon]

We often see Ash coming to bat at n°3 before Bd crosses 5 overs because evry time whe loose whether JS or Nazim or SN & rarely Tamim.
And Ash hardly done well in those situations.So I would like him to go down to the 4th or 5th position.
But as far as the other opnrs are concerned Ash with Tamim will be a better option then JS or Nzm or SN.
BTW why don't we think of Raquibul since he looks confident against fast bpwlrs????

[akabir77]

Originally Posted by simon
BTW why don't we think of Raquibul since he looks confident against fast bpwlrs????

Because you experiment with only those players who's position is fixed in the team. Rakibul has just got in and u want to sent him as opener and fail and get out of the team?

[simon]

Hey Rifat bh u r right about Aftab.
We can let Aftab or Raquibal open but not ASh.
And Aftab comparing to JS,SN & Nazim is always better.
But I think Aft is already dropped from the squad against Austr.