Is Ashraful getting better? or we are wasting him?

Miraz · #1 March 22, 2007, 12:10 PM

Ashraful is averaging above 40 (42.0 to be exact) in the last 10 ODI he played.

Is he getting better? learning from his mistakes? or batting at number 6 and remaining not out is boosting his average.

If that is the case, we are simply wasting Ashraful. IMO, Ashraful should bat at no 4 or 5. If he cannot perform there, he should not be cushioned at no. 6.

Or, have we found the perfect place for Ashraful and he will win matches for us from that position?

I am confused.

sadi · #2 March 22, 2007, 12:18 PM

The problem is whenever we promote him up the order, he fails to deliver. But he looked so damn good yesterday. It seems like he is finally realizing his potential. But then again, whenever he scores he looks that good. So I am just as much confused as you are.

pagol-chagol · #3 March 22, 2007, 12:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sadi
But then again, whenever he scores he looks that good. So I am just as much confused as you are.

His body language, except that "Bekkol Hashi" was different yesterday. In his previous great innings you could always sense that he was "osthir". Yesterday, his brain waves were working at "alpha" level instead of "beta". This is somenting new. Even when he was going for the big shots, he was totally calm. Never looked out of control. Didn't matter who the bowler was. I think he has reached a new level of maturity and big things are coming. This could be the year Ashraful takes off.

al Furqaan · #4 March 22, 2007, 12:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sadi
The problem is whenever we promote him up the order, he fails to deliver. But he looked so damn good yesterday. It seems like he is finally realizing his potential. But then again, whenever he scores he looks that good. So I am just as much confused as you are.

said it all...there is nothing left to say at this point.

eventually, i believe ashraful will deliver what goods he has. but he is one of those extremely late bloomers.

with the likes of SN, aftab, mushy, and sakib there to share the burden, he will eventually come through. key word eventually.

we didn't see it before, because the lack of quality help meant all the burden was on his shoulders. we see experienced greats like dravid or tendulkar struggle to carry an entire team, so who is a 18 or 22 year old kid to do that?

no matter what happens, ashraful should continue to bat down the order...tho he should replace bashar at #5...he is too good to come in at 7, and with bashar's current form, has to take #5. in fact, i always favored ash at 5 and not at 6 or 7.

bengaltiger · #5 March 22, 2007, 12:19 PM

i didn't watch the SL game but his stats in that match looked downright impressive. if he is expected to perform like that, i think ash should bat up the order.

Kabir · #6 March 22, 2007, 12:21 PM

Yes, it is the number of not outs that is helping him a lot. Here are the last 10 innings he played: 36, 14, 4*, 38*, 22, 16, 3, 60, 8*, 45*.

There are thus 4 unbeaten innings, and so his total runs will be divided by 6 innings, not 10. That's a huge boos in average.

Personally, I don't think putting him at #6 will do any good in the long run. If he can be replaced with an all-rounder pacer, who can bad moderately well, that will be better. Otherwise, he should be brought up to #5, which is Bashar. Bashar has been failing continuously, and I think it's about time that Bashar says goodbye to the Tigers.

israr · #7 March 22, 2007, 12:25 PM

Let him score some runs and regain his form, and automatically he'll be promoted up the top order.

*AsifTheManRahman* · #8 March 22, 2007, 12:26 PM

yes. in the long run, we'll have to play him at 3 or 4, and probably move aftab down to 6/7, where he has done well in the past and where he can get out without causing too many headaches.

for now, i think the line-up should be as it is.

Miraz · #9 March 22, 2007, 12:27 PM

We must think keeping Bashar in the side for at least one more year.

Ash is not the replacement of Bashar.

IMO, Bangladesh will gain more if we switch the positions of Sakib and Ashraful. We can only do that if Ash starts to deliver, otherwise unsettling Sakib will be even worse.

Fazal · #10 March 22, 2007, 12:37 PM

I believe in smaller steps. In short term, only thing I canb think about, is switching batting order between Ash and Bash. i.e. Ash batting at #5.

When chasing a big total, I didn't like Rahim @ #3. Rahim @ #3 is ok when we are chasing a smaller total or Tamim is still in.

The other future option for Ash is #3. But its too early for that. Two things needs to happen, a) Ash needs to prove at #5 that his form is back, b) Aftab needs to fail further.

For #4: But in mid term, I don't want to unsettle Sakib's postion at this moment. Long term who knows.... I may change my mind.

So bottom like: whatever it is, we should play too much with the batting order expect for Ash @ 5.

*AsifTheManRahman* · #11 March 22, 2007, 12:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fazal

When chasing a big total, I didn't like Rahim @ #3. Rahim @ #3 is ok when we are chasing a smaller total or Tamim is still in.

i'm guessing the idea was to send in a cool-head for another one. had it been tamim instead of nafees, they'd probably have sent aftab in.

anyways, they seemed to be going for too many shots earlier on than concentrating on settling in and building upon an early foundation and the sense of urgency was very obvious. these things will change with time and experience.

jabbar · #12 March 25, 2007, 09:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fazal
For #4: But in mid term, I don't want to unsettle Sakib's postion at this moment. Long term who knows.... I may change my mind.

You're starting to sound like you're actually selecting the team yourself

Fazal · #13 March 25, 2007, 09:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jabbar
You're starting to sound like you're actually selecting the team yourself

As fans thats what we do... when we express our opinion ...we pretend that we are the selector... coach ... the players....the opponent ....etc ... etc... isn't it?

jabbar · #14 March 25, 2007, 09:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fazal
As fans thats what we do... when we express our opinion ...we pretend that we are the selector... coach ... the players....the opponent ....etc ... etc... isn't it?

Yeah, that's cool man! Just thought it was funny.

But it raises the question, what if team selectors actually took notice of what we say? Maybe they are?

Tigers_eye · #15 March 22, 2007, 12:27 PM

Should I add the bowling of Dilshan and Arnold instead of the regular ones? Good to see him playing with the tail and rotating when it is necessary.

al Furqaan · #16 March 22, 2007, 12:52 PM

ATMR, and Fazal also said it right.

Protic · #17 March 22, 2007, 12:57 PM

Yes.. rahim should be in at 3 only when we are chasing small totals..under 220.
My batting line should go like this
Nafees
Tamim
Aftab
Ashraful
Sakib
Bashar
Mushy
and follows on.

Sakib will do good at 5 & Bashar at 6.

TheWatcher · #18 March 22, 2007, 01:03 PM

Yeah, it was refreshing to see Ashraful showing some consistency. I think he has done enough to be given the #5 position on a regular basis.

Duck · #19 March 22, 2007, 01:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Miraz
Ashraful is averaging above 40 (42.0 to be exact) in the last 10 ODI he played.

Is he getting better? learning from his mistakes? or batting at number 6 and remaining not out is boosting his average.

If that is the case, we are simply wasting Ashraful. IMO, Ashraful should bat at no 4 or 5. If he cannot perform there, he should not be cushioned at no. 6.

Or, have we found the perfect place for Ashraful and he will win matches for us from that position?

I am confused.

I think Ashraful himself is confused as the fans are. Let him do his own soul-searching. Allow him to what ever the hell he is doing right now. Let him clear his mind first by making more runs. Otherwise he would be lost forever!

Hatebreed · #20 March 22, 2007, 01:43 PM

I think he should be moved up a spot or two against Bermuda.

cricketboy · #21 March 22, 2007, 02:17 PM

AFtab at no 4 is wasted. He should bat at 3 or 7. Probably BD team wants to utilize Ash's hitting power at the end of the iinings thats why he is no 7.

sadi · #22 March 22, 2007, 02:35 PM

Well we should be careful this time and promote him step by step. Eventually I see him batting at number 4 but for now I will keep him at number 6. Let him get more confidence and maturity. Then after the world cup, we can have him bat at number 5 instead of 6 and have Bashar coming at number 6. If he continues to do well there, maybe he can swap the place with Sakib after a while. But just like I said it before, this time we should be cautious and go step by step. Its kinda like giving someone more responsibility without having them realizing it.

Mahir · #23 March 22, 2007, 02:45 PM

For the time being, I strongly believe this is Ashraful's position (#6), and that's where he should continue to bat at, and help us win games without giving us heartattacks. He has looked extremely assured in this finisher's role, and I for one am in very much favor of what staying there.

But things must change in the long run. He is young, he is talented, and has well over a decade of cricket left in him. If things go accordingly, he will show us more n more examples of proper application with the bat. And then he can come up the order. After Bashar retires, Ash will move one spot up the order, and should look to cement it for good. He is a top order material, but I would compare his position in the team with Sangakkara's in the SL team. Both naturally talented stroke-makers, but looks more assured in the middle-order.

Overall, I like the direction Ashraful is apparently headed (unless things are forced to change).

Thunder · #24 March 22, 2007, 03:11 PM

Ash is in perfect position and this is the place we have been looking for a long time.

I know why this question is coming in the first place.. Its all about the innings of 45 no he played against SL.

The last innings played by Ash was under "ZERO" pressure. He was not fighting for a close defeat. He was not fighting for to lift the net run rate. Its like he was just playing for match practice..

We should not change our team just because we lost a match badly. I think the current combination is the best we've ever had..

layperson · #25 March 22, 2007, 04:11 PM

I have said this before as well. Our top 4 is well set and there is no point in changing that to accomodate Ashraful. He should bat at #5 like some other posters mentioned. Bashar is of no use at that position as he has always been "bad" in ODI"s if I may say so. Sakib is doing well at 4 and there is no need to disturb him from there. He is perfect for that spot. Also one good innings from Ashraful will not convince me that he has turned a new leaf. He has done this a lot of times before, played a good knock or two giving fans hope that he is ready now but he always disappoints. However I would still have him bat at 5 instead of bashar. His average as someone else mentioned is inflated and not a good indicator of his last 10 innings because of the not outs.