Let Mushfiq open

[TheWatcher]

I read in Prothom-Alo that DW proposed to send Mushfiq as an opener along with Tamim in today's match, but he had to back out of it (no mention why). My request to him (if it can somehow reach him)- please go ahead with that trial.

I still consider JO as the best stop gap option we have, but there is no reason why we should stop looking for a permanent solution to our opening problem (once again, I don't think SN will ever make the cut as a reliable option here). We lost our chance for a semifinal berth, now we don't have anything big left to be lost. The next two matches gives us the perfect opportunity to figure out our options before the India series.

Also, please give Reza a chance. If he had gained better control over his seam bowling, he can be a very tough customer to handle on Barbados pitches.

So, I propose the following line up-

Mushfiq
Tamim
Bashar
Sakib
Ashraful
Aftab
Farhad
Mashrafe
Rafique
Razzak
Rasel

[HereWeGo]

i proposed the exact same line up a couple of days back with same batting order. Its high time to implement it.

[Duck]

1.Mushfiq
2.Tamim
3.Sakib
4.Ashraful
5.Aftab
6.Farhad
7.Mashrafe
8.Rafique
9.Razzak
10.Rasel
11.Bashar

Excellent idea about opening that we were brewing for a while in so many threads.
Looking forward for Reja's contribution with bowl and bat. And also a 6th bowler in the team. BD is a wonder! No 6th bowler! hah........

Knowing that Bashar wont be "rested" for the next matches, I would ask him to bat at 11 so that his chances of being humiliated by run out and open the batting collapse will be less. And there would be plenty of time for him to do phylosophy in the balcony. He forgets that in the middle of a pitch......it is cricket. No more Phylosophy for run out!

[Tigers_eye]

JO, NI, Rajin, SN, Ash, Mehrab Jr., TI, Rafiq. As someone said, we could open with our tail and still do better.

It would be hard to experiment more in the biggest stage. Let JO and TI finish the WC.

[allrounder]

Musfiq has serious problem is knowing ball movement, his footwork is ok, but he cannot judge the line of the ball well and see the ball crashing his stumps. If you open how can he face bowl that has pace,bounce and swing? Farhad is a waste so far, that is how he has been in BD-A team atleast.

[TheWatcher]

Originally Posted by Tigers_eye
It would be hard to experiment more in the biggest stage. Let JO and TI finish the WC.

Tell me what willi hurt us more - losing a match against WI or losing the series against India ?

As I said, if we are to experiment, this is our best opportunity.

[ialbd]

I think Mushfiq might be tried as an opener because apprently the team management sent Mushfiq to bat before Ashraful/Aftab against England today to hold his wicket and stabilise the innings (From Utpol Shuvros article today). So yea he can definitely be an option although I highly doubt how effective he can be in this pitch over JO.

Secondly, making a room for Farhad in the top 11 > How good do you guys think Farhad can be with the bat given the situation. But certainly he can share the balling quota with Sakib and offer more variation into our attack....

[TheWatcher]

Well, from the few matches I have seen, Farhad Reza looked like a capable batsman. His consistency in domestic leagues this year was not that good, but same can be said about most of the national team players. In Sri Lanka, earlier this month, he made a score of 82 for the A-team, that was the highest score by a Bangladeshi batsman during that entire tour.

[OZGOD]

Originally Posted by TheWatcher

So, I propose the following line up-

Mushfiq
Tamim
Bashar
Sakib
Ashraful
Aftab
Farhad
Mashrafe
Rafique
Razzak
Rasel

Why are the two best batsmen batting in the lower middle order though?

[TheWatcher]

Originally Posted by OZGOD
Why are the two best batsmen batting in the lower middle order though?

Are you referring to Ashraful and Aftab ? Well, as we have seen today, those two can't be trusted during early overs. They generally do far better in middle and late overs.

[akabir77]

Originally Posted by OZGOD
Why are the two best batsmen batting in the lower middle order though?

cause those two can't bat when ball is flying...

[shane2k]

Originally Posted by TheWatcher
Tell me what willi hurt us more - losing a match against WI or losing the series against India ?

As I said, if we are to experiment, this is our best opportunity.

Point to be noted.

This is the time to experiment, enjoy, learn, build confidence and consistency.

Mushfiq I think is better one down. Today instead of Bashar if he was sent with the note that "beta khobordar pavilion ashbina, run nish r na nish kamraia poira thak"... we might have seen another show from him like India. Well, now we cam always hypothesize, "chor palailay budhdhi baray"

[tonoy]

I think it would be better to retain the same formation and give the chance for batsmen to comback with confidence. and what better than a game against Ireland.

[Protic]

I prefer Same line up..
Nafees might get runs to be back in form..maybe Bashar too? ..

[Pundit]

Mushy to open? Not a bad idea. Does Forhad Reza come in then?

[KaaL-PurusH]

Mushfiq's technique against stump's line ball is not solid. he has exposed this weakness in matches with NZ & Eng. So i reckon it wont be good idea to promote him at opening slot.

so, TI & JO wud be fine but temporarily.

[sadi]

I like the lineup. If Mushfiq is good enough of a batsman to be preferred over Pilot, its time he proves his worth since he is not doing so well with the glove. It allows us to have forhad lower down and gives us some flexibility. He can rotate the strike, hit few boundaries and a perfect number 7.

[akabir77]

lets make it a musical chair and winer and runner up goes to open. is it that easy to open??? then how come 5/6 year we had so many openers? cause we change them in the first chance we get...

[Tigers_eye]

Surely we will change Tamim once Sadat comes in to picture. Just wait and see.

obviously winning the series against India would be a better prize for us. But noone would watch or remember those winnings except India and BD. whereas, Beating WI at their home in a WC game would proclaim we are better than them for sure and the world would recognize that. Time to move up the order.

[Fazal]

Originally Posted by TheWatcher
Well, from the few matches I have seen, Farhad Reza looked like a capable batsman. His consistency in domestic leagues this year was not that good, but same can be said about most of the national team players. In Sri Lanka, earlier this month, he made a score of 82 for the A-team, that was the highest score by a Bangladeshi batsman during that entire tour.

I completely agree with you. Farhad's batting is not the suspect, its his bowling which is questionable. So far what we have seen in the national team, looks like Farhad knows how to build his innings. Starts with 1s and 2s.... knows how to roatate... and then knows how to fininsh with 4s and 6s. The only thing is he did it against weaker teams, can he do it against stronger teams? We will never know unless we try him.

Looks like he will score much more runs than Bashar, SN, Gullu, Rafiq, Rassak or Rasel and most likely more than Tamim, Mushfiq, Aftab and Ash (if its not 2 eid days).

So why not give him a chance and see what he can do.

[afrina]

Not a good idea at all.

[Mahmood]

Yeah, open with Mushfiq, bring in Farhad.

[KaaL-PurusH]

pichki 1ta polare dojoge falanor jonno shobai eto uitha poira lagsen ken??? jodi experiment kortei chan taile gutts less aftab re pathan opening e?? quality fast bowling er against Mushfiq er performance dekher por ei chinta korte o amar voy lage.

r india er bowling to BD er che kharap. so eitare kono vabei example hishabe dhora uchit hobe na.

[capslock]

What makes you guys think that he is an opener? Just stick with SN until he comes out of his form slump, the reason we have gone through so many openers in the last few years is because we have never given a player enough time to come out of a form slump, they start feeling pressure as soon as they get a few low scores that they will be out of the team. Stick with a player for god's sake!

[sharifk]

Exactly what I suggested a few days ago here"

http://www.banglacricket.com/alochon...ad.php?t=20303