Bangladesh are going backwards

[Nadim]

Bangladesh's Test match status has been debated ever since they were awarded full membership by the ICC a little over 11 years ago. Bangladesh played their first Test match in November 2000, and since then have won just three of 72 matches, with a staggering 62 losses. Even those three wins were not much to cheer about, as they came against Zimbabwe and a severely weakened West Indies team.

The team has shown some signs of improvement in ODI cricket over the last few years with a few surprise victories – the 4-0 drubbing of New Zealand at home last October, for example – but in 2011, it has been clear that they are actually taking backward steps.

Bangladesh are too reliant on their world-class allrounder, Shakib Al Hasan, and Tamim Iqbal, one of Wisden’s five cricketers of 2010. Talented youngsters like Mahmudullah and Nasir Hossain have shown encouraging signs, but Bangladesh just don't have enough star players to compete with the more established teams.

Mohammad Ashraful's career sums up Bangladesh's performance over the last decade. He showed plenty of promise and was obviously very talented, but he couldn't kick on after a good start due to dodgy technique and temperament. Their 2011 World Cup campaign resulted in them being bowled out for under 100 twice, including an embarrassing 58 all out in Mirpur against an average West Indies attack.

If Bangladesh are severely struggling in their favoured format, then it doesn't bode well for their Test future. There are many areas of concern, but their main problem is the batting. Tamim, seemingly, has tried to emulate Virender Sehwag by scoring run-a-ball centuries and he has been reasonably successful in his short international career to date. Consistency is where he and his team-mates falter.

The batsmen might produce the odd wonder innings but more often than not they fall early in their innings. This is why most of their batting averages are down in the 20s. The batsmen fail to knuckle down and grind out an innings, and this lack of fight is very disappointing to cricket fans around the world. It's as if they don't want to be out there in the middle.

However, it isn't just the batting that is sub-standard. Their bowling also lacks the firepower that is needed for Test cricket. The seam attack is virtually non-existent and five-wicket hauls are as rare as wins. Shakib is a highly skilled spinner, but that he outshines his team-mates even in this aspect is not something to be celebrated.

These cricketers obviously have plenty of talent but during their international careers, they haven't converted that promise into match-winning performances, meaning Bangladesh remain at the bottom of the ladder. That Zimbabwe are showing signs of improvement on their return to Test cricket only heightens the challenge that Bangladesh face. While most countries around them are improving, they appear to be in steady decline.

It is a very sad situation that Bangladeshi cricket is in. Many cricket fans have been willing them to do well over the past decade, but many have now lost faith in the subcontinent outfit. It is likely that they are going nowhere.

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There you go. its just the beginning.

[tma]

[/QUOTE] There you go. its just the beginning. [/QUOTE]

Or maybe the beginning of the end of our cricket ?!

[Abirz]

what does bcb do with the money they earn? How come they don't invest in player development, we are soo f'd up right now, bangladesh's cricket quality has become worse than gully cricket

[paindu]

Article 100% correct. Bangladesh's test status should not been taken away. But they should be given a break for some time. They should play more ODIs and there should be more tours arranged at the A level and U 21. The domestic structure needs more impetus and time. I don't think these losses will do any good for Bangladeshi cricket.

[lamisa]

we have been through this plenty of times. but amader gaayer chamra etto mota!

[Fazal]

No they are playing Ha dodo.

To achieve goal, you need to go forward...you need to go backward... you need to go side way...to avoid tackle.

[mufi_02]

Instead of being kicked out, self exile as Zimbabwe is the best option.

[simon]

ei bar Mirpur e Pakistan er khobori asey

[WarWolf]

Originally Posted by simon
ei bar Mirpur e Pakistan er khobori asey

Mair ektao mati te porbe na. Paki der bat ar ball dia pidai shoja kore dite hobe.

[Gowza]

the current batting line-up despite scoring poorly atm is still the strongest BD has ever had. however one major concern that i've noticed and i've been waiting for awhile for this to have changed, and that is that tamim is the only one (other than ash but he is in and out of the team these days) to have scored more than 1 test century. 50s are good but they need to carry on at least occasionally. you can't be very successful in test cricket if no one in your team scores centuries. shakib, rahim and riyad have been stuck on 1 test century for a few matches now, they really need to pump up that number.

they should start a friendly rivalry between the batters in the team. who can get the most centuries for that year? or to make it even more intense who can get the most for that series? something to push them along, like "hey buddy i got a century last match, where's yours..." nothing vicious or malicious but a rivalry with the others in the team to help each other do better and produce better results for themselves and the team.

[mahbubH]

bookies can help in Mirpur and save our cricket!

[Sohel]

Well, we can always believe that we're actually going forward, but it's the world that's actually facing the wrong direction. No wonder they don't see what our bosses do.

[LBW103]

Does anyone else get the feeling that something isn't quite right between the coaching staff, players and board?

[lamisa]

Originally Posted by Sohel NR
Well, we can always believe that we're actually going forward, but it's the world that's actually facing the wrong direction. No wonder they don't see what our bosses do.

lol sohel bhai!