From the Independent, UK: Bangladesh still waiting for butterfly to take wing

[Zunaid]

Bangladesh still waiting for butterfly to take wing

Complete Article Here

This World Cup was meant to be when the national side finally competed with the elite, but the co-hosts, despite inventing a new delivery, are close to going out
By Stephen Brenkley

Thursday, 10 March 2011


REUTERS
In Bangladesh wandering cows bring an extra challenge to the fielding side, such as at this impromptu match in Chittagong

• More pictures

This was meant to be the World Cup when Bangladesh came of age at last. A little more than 10 years since being invited to gorge at cricket's high table they were now to show their fitness to have their noses in the trough along with the other big-name sides.

This exclusive, disparate band consists simply of the 10 full members of the ICC, the countries that in effect run the game and take a large slice of the money it generates. Bangladesh had been allowed to feast with them but were ready to assume a place as of right rather than courtesy.

How beautifully their preparation went. They won series against New Zealand and Zimbabwe late last year by thumping margins, 4-0 and 3-1. The country was alive with expectation. At home, in front of fans who have grown more passionate as the years have gone by, they were expected to succeed, they were demanded to succeed. A respected BBC commentator suggested they could win it, rather as Sri Lanka did against the odds 15 years ago.

Complete Article Here

Read all the way through. Has some quotes from our friend Ian and you can guess as to the choice of the title. Nice touch to the concluding paragraph that uses Ian's description of the "butterfly" for a dramatic ending.

"It's a ball that doesn't rotate in the air, it just floats like a butterfly," he said. "It looks like a normal delivery and if it is bowled properly it is dramatic. It just drops like a stone and doesn't go anywhere." So far, unfortunately, Bangladesh have done likewise.

This is a good and balanced article.

[Zunaid]

A good quote from Ian:

"There is a lot to be cheerful about in Bangladesh in terms of cementing the future," he says. "They obviously need to work on the basics. People just need a lot of encouragement here. For a long time it has been spin, I understand that the wickets are low and slow generally. But it's what is in your heart that counts. If your heart is empty it doesn't matter what is in your head."

[Tiger444]

Thanks Zunaid bhai for a great article. Enjoyed reading it.

[Zunaid]

Originally Posted by Tiger444
Thanks Zunaid bhai for a great article. Enjoyed reading it.

Don't thank me, thank the writer and possibly Coach Ian Pont. From the familiar tone in the story ("And Pont being Pont ...") I think they know each other and Ian did put us in a positive light.

[Tiger444]

Originally Posted by Zunaid
Don't thank me, thank the writer and possibly Coach Ian Pont. From the familiar tone in the story ("And Pont being Pont ...") I think they know each other and Ian did put us in a positive light.

Ya I thank the writer and coach Pont as well. Coach makes a good point in what you highlighted there. It sounds like a broken record but basics are not taught at an early age and that's the reason we just haven't improved at a pace we should have. Learning on the job in international cricket is not the way to go. We're not going to be able to compete with the big guns that way.

[Abirz]

Yea Bangladesh is still a caterpillar,or maybe it's in the larvae stage, smthg like that,you get the meaning

[Rabz]

Hey, we could still win the world cup.
Thats not out of the box yet.
6 straight wins, we are there.
It hasn't been done by us before, but there is always a first time.

[AsifTheManRahman]

Bat korte na parle eishob projapoti fojapoti diye ki hobe? 370 - faizlami naki?

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[bujhee kom]

The Butterfly is in it's Caacoon!! Everything happens in due time...patience brothers!

I love the Chittagong picture though...that is big ole tree that the boys are playing under...see how big...must be a very old tree, I bet!!

[SMHasan]

Originally Posted by Rabz
Hey, we could still win the world cup.
Thats not out of the box yet.
6 straight wins, we are there.
It hasn't been done by us before, but there is always a first time.

Exactly! Everything needs a beginning! We need 6 wins to be the World Champions. We still can do it. Come on Tigers!

[6alltheway]

"Of course, cricket was always played here, but in the days when it was part of eastern India and then later East Pakistan, it was never fertile territory for cricket or cricketers. The game seemed to stop at Kolkata and barely travel further east.

It did not throw up players of natural class and ability as the other countries did and to some extent it still does not. "

How true is this : (

[shuziburo]

Good article although it is troubling to find out that Ian Pont still had to work on basics with the pace bowlers. Fountain's baseball background might have been useful with the invention of the butterfly. Sounds like a sinker in baseball. When will we see one? We have not seen one yet...

[ammark]

Originally Posted by shuziburo
Good article although it is troubling to find out that Ian Pont still had to work on basics with the pace bowlers.

[Avik]

such a passionate, respectful article. but also unbiased. harsh truths were there too.

this is the kind of delivery people like Monga will never be able to give for Bangladesh cricket, even if we win the world cup 10 years from now.

the feeling inside shows up in the article when one writes something. that is why people like Monga will never be able to respect Bangladesh cricket through their writing, even if they try it.