Your Bowling Attack for Tests

[Jadukor]

We have been debating about Nazmul vs Abul vs Razzak vs Sunny etc etc but regardless of which players we prefer, it seems the present Selectors have other ideas.

So if you were the Selector and all players were fit, which four specialist bowlers + Shakib would you go with from the current resources? Please exclude Mash because he doesn't play tests any more.

I would select the following
1. Nazmul Hossain (avg 38.8 per wkt, econ 3.53)
2. Taskin Ahmed (avg 29 per wkt, Econ 3.17 in First Class matches)
3. Gazi (avg 41 per wkt, Econ 3.17)
4. Enamul (avg 39 per wkt, Econ 3.04)
5. Shakib (avg 32 per wkt, Econ 2.86)

I chose the above for their wicket taking ability and good control over keeping things tight. The only question mark is Taskin because he is very young but if we can try Abul then we can try Taskin as well imo. I think these guys are our best chance to get 20 wkts in Tests.

please share your bowling attack here

[Rifat]

Agree 100%. However, Taskin Ahmed i will only bring him in if he can be used for shorter spells, not more than 5 overs per spell. Same with Nazmul. I would also keep Rubel.

[BD_TigerZ]

1. Nazmul/Sajidul (for now) then Taskin when more developed.
2. Rubel
3. Gazi
4. Enamul Jnr
5. Shakib

This to me is a strong bowling attack pacers have pace and can keep it tight to some point + world class spinners.

[al-Sagar]

amake chance na dile khelbo na

[BD_TigerZ]

Originally Posted by Jadukor
exclude Mash because he doesn't play tests any more.

You should add shafiul to that list as he has some recuring shoulder or back issue and wont be able to play tests no more.

[Gowza]

i think it's a bit early for taskin, he's still raw, inexperienced and young. it's not like he's completely ripping through all the domestic line-ups, he's just been pretty solid. i'd just be worried that his body won't hold up and that would be bad for the future.

i think it's tough to pick the pacers because nazmul, who we all think would do better than the current ones hasn't been given a chance recently, he's been out of test cricket for awhile. rubel didn't have a great start to tests but looks to be starting to come good. abul hasn't done well but it's still early days for him. sajidul has been out of test cricket awhile but he's been doing well domestically and then there's guys like babu, kamrul's etc who have potential. we shouldn't forget shafiul either but with injuries he needs to play some matches after coming back and prove he deserves his spot.

i think maybe for now go with nazmul and rubel. give nazmul a couple of series to see what he's got and give rubel a couple more to see if he can keep up his recent test performances.

as far as spin goes i think it's a no brainer to have gazi and shakib. the 3rd spin spot can go to enamul or maybe sajib with sunny, razzak and m.rubel also in consideration.

[ahnaf]

i would go with Rubel,Robiul,Nazmul,Gazi,Enam and Shakib. Robiul has impressed me very much.
Even though he didnot not bowl a outstanding spell, he is improving everyday. His bowling getting better day by day.

[Rinathq]

Nazmul
Rubel
Enamul
Gazi
Shak

Others: Robiul, Elias, Saqlain

[IanW]

For what sort of pitch ?

[Jadukor]

Originally Posted by IanW
For what sort of pitch ?

mine was irrespective of pitch conditions but if you have separate attacks in mind then feel free to share.

[jeesh]

Originally Posted by Jadukor
We have been debating about Nazmul vs Abul vs Razzak vs Sunny etc etc but regardless of which players we prefer, it seems the present Selectors have other ideas.

So if you were the Selector and all players were fit, which four specialist bowlers + Shakib would you go with from the current resources? Please exclude Mash because he doesn't play tests any more.

I would select the following
1. Nazmul Hossain (avg 38.8 per wkt, econ 3.53)
2. Taskin Ahmed (avg 29 per wkt, Econ 3.17 in First Class matches)
3. Gazi (avg 41 per wkt, Econ 3.17)
4. Enamul (avg 39 per wkt, Econ 3.04)
5. Shakib (avg 32 per wkt, Econ 2.86)

I chose the above for their wicket taking ability and good control over keeping things tight. The only question mark is Taskin because he is very young but if we can try Abul then we can try Taskin as well imo. I think these guys are our best chance to get 20 wkts in Tests.

please share your bowling attack here

You have got it absolutely right brother. This would make a formidable lineup.

Thing is our selectors often dont value the concept of balance. The bowling attack must have balance, each bowler must complement the others strengths and make up for their weaknesses. Imo its pointless playing both Shahadat and Rubel or Abul and Shahadat. Both dont have the accuracy or consistency to put pressure. They will leak runs from both ends giving the batsmen a lot of confidence. On the other hand if you plug someone like Nazmul, he can keep it tight. Even if he doesnt pick wickets he will keep it so tight it will give opportunities for the others. I remember Tuffey used to play this role for Shane Bond. Kulasekera currently plays this role for SL.

Enamul, and Shakib are world class-two of the best SLA's in the world. Add Gazi to the list we have three very potent spinners. Good variety.

But this is how our selectors will think. There is grass so lets play three quicks, lets pick Shahadat, Rubel and Abul. They have pace, so they ll do a good job. Also they will say since Shakib is there no need to take a second specialist spinner. Thats our downfall. We dont play to our strengths, we think too much about tradition, convention and the wicket. We get lost in all that. Akram Khan & co should read Sun Tzu. If they dont understand that, at least read our history and how we fought the war in 1971. As a David you dont win by being conventional.

[22Yards]

I am just waiting to see shakib gazi and enam attack for tests. That would be deadly. For pacers does not really matter. Abul can only get better from here, rubel is ok but i thought he was better before injury. There is taskin who should be eased in. Nazmul definitely should get more chances.

[Fazal]

I am so glad that popular Nazmul within fans, is not the favorite ahead of Abul/Rubel/Robiul by the current brain trust.

I am the minority here, but Abul/Rubel/Robiul/Taskin/Shafiul are the future, not Nazmul. Nazmul's future is "now" with very limited ceiling........and even for "now", injury prone nazmul will just be a short gap solution in ODI team, forget about test.

Obviously the current brain-trust decided to go for a master plan to build a new core of young FBs and I am all for it....Abul/Rubel/Robiul/Taskin/Shafiul... we need all of them plus some more.... but the days of Shahadat/Nazmul/Mashrafee are over for different reasons for TEST and limited role in ODI.

I don't see how Nazmul can play a role in near future for our team. So no point wasting time on him ahead of Abul/Rubel/Robiul/Taskin/Shafiul.

[Jadukor]

Nazmul is just 25... He has at least 10 years ahead of him

[Fazal]

Originally Posted by Jadukor
Nazmul is just 25... He has at least 10 years ahead of him

But injury prone Nazmul is too slow for my choice... as I said most people will not agree with me. I don't see he will gain more speed at this stage. He is a glorified version of Rasel. He could have been a very good addition for us four years ago... now with so much possibilities ahead of us.... I don't see how Nazmul will fit in our national TEST team for future.

[Jadukor]

You are right most people will not agree with you

[Equinox]

Nazmul Hossain
Rubel Hossain
Abul Hasan/Saqlain Shajib (depending on pitch)
Shohag Gazi
Shakib Al Hasan

Squad: Abul/Shajib, Robiul, Enamul jnr.

[Nadim]

1) Rubel
2) Taskin
3) Shakib
4) Gazi
5) any other SLA other than Sunny


This is what I wanna see for the first test against Zimbabwe

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[Equinox]

Originally Posted by Fazal
But injury prone Nazmul is too slow for my choice... as I said most people will not agree with me. I don't see he will gain more speed at this stage. He is a glorified version of Rasel. He could have been a very good addition for us four years ago... now with so much possibilities ahead of us.... I don't see how Nazmul will fit in our national TEST team for future.

You just displayed our selectors' mentality. Pick the squad on potential rather than actual performance. Even if Nazmul does not take wickets at the very least he will not leak runs which will allow the other bowlers to attack. If he can give us 15 overs of economical bowling it gives Shakib/Gazi some respite from bowling those protracted spells.

[Fazal]

Originally Posted by Equinox
You just displayed our selectors' mentality. Pick the squad on potential rather than actual performance.

Yes you are 100% right... I agree with the selectors here with a twist here. While you and some fans see no results, I see indications of progress in these young FBs. And that's enough for me to trust on these players and trust on the selectors in this aspect.

Regardless how much we like to ridicule our selectors and coach, I trust more on them about potential evaluation than the fans here.... no offense to the fans here.

Originally Posted by Equinox

Even if Nazmul does not take wickets at the very least he will not leak runs which will allow the other bowlers to attack. If he can give us 15 overs of economical bowling it gives Shakib/Gazi some respite from bowling those protracted spells.

If that is your goal in TEST, then you may make a case. But if that's not what you expect from your FBs in TEST team moving forward, then Nazmul has not much to provide in test team beyond stop gap solution. Moving forward, my expectation from our FBs are much more than just a conainting bowler role.

Now if you are looking for a containing bowler in ODI, that's a different case. We are not talking about ODI, right?

Even in ODI, if you are the containing bowler,you need to make up with your batting which he doesn't...that's why he may not be a permanent ODI solution also... he will always stay as a reserve or a 3rd option.

Also based on his injury history, I doubt how long he will be available if he plays TEST.

[jeesh]

Disagree with you Fazal.

Firstly careers dont end at 25. Do you know Kulasekera is 30, Eranga is 26, Lakmal is 26, Welagedara is 31.

Secondly containing is also very important in tests. Test cricket is all about building pressure. You choke the flow of runs, keep them in check and wait for the batsman to lose concentration and patience and then strike. Bowlers like Abul, Rubel, Shahadat even Shafiul tend to bowl three good line/length deliveries, then they put one short or wide and get punished. The good work they did with the three previous deliveries are of no use.

I dont think everyones in love with Nazmul as you might think. We just need to have a bowler with discipline in the lineup. Someone who sticks to the basics and bowls in the correct areas consistently. Someone who can bowl 5-6 overs in a row not giving away runs, allowing the bowler in the other end to attack. Being a lesser team we cannot attack on both ends. We need to strike a balance. Guys like Nazmul can provide that. Just see how beautifully Sri Lanka uses Kulasekera. Barring his inswingers he doesnt have much skill. He just sticks to the basics, bowls in the channel and allows guys like Malinga, Eranga, etc to attack. This is what we often fail to understand

[Fazal]

Originally Posted by Jadukor
You are right most people will not agree with you

And I am so glad that team is not selected based on fan's popularity contest.

[Fazal]

Originally Posted by jeesh
Disagree with you Fazal.

Firstly careers dont end at 25. Do you know Kulasekera is 30, Eranga is 26, Lakmal is 26, Welagedara is 31.

That's not what I said. You don't gain speed when you are already 25. As I said before Nazmul is too slow for me specially for TEST. He may have some role for some specific case, but very limited role.

Originally Posted by jeesh
Secondly containing is also very important in tests. Test cricket is all about building pressure. You choke the flow of runs, keep them in check and wait for the batsman to lose concentration and patience and then strike.

For some pitch, you need to create pressure from your core FBs. If you need a container bowler, you use your sudo all-rounders for that in your team. With the new ball, I don't want a specialied bowler as my container bowler, I like an attacking fast bowler to start my innings.

You can get away with your containing bowler in ODI, but not in test. You need your strike bowlers in TEST. Now whether Abul/Robiul/Rubel/Shafiul are your true strike bowlers or not, we will find out within a year or so. Nazmul is not a strike bowler in my opinion.

Originally Posted by jeesh

Bowlers like Abul, Rubel, Shahadat even Shafiul tend to bowl three good line/length deliveries, then they put one short or wide and get punished. The good work they did with the three previous deliveries are of no use.

Two things I have to say...

You just need one good ball to get a wicket.

2nd point: Abul, Rubel, Shafiul, Robiul are all young and still learning...i am willing to give them some time here... if some of them fail over time (which some will do), we get the next new breed of FBs on the line...we need to move forward... not move backward.

If you have read my comment, I didn't included Shahdat in my list intentionally . He had plenty of opportunity and he failed to show constant improvement.... its time to move forward with other prospects. Shahadat is still young but I gave up hope on him.

Originally Posted by jeesh
I dont think everyones in love with Nazmul as you might think. We just need to have a bowler with discipline in the lineup. Someone who sticks to the basics and bowls in the correct areas consistently. Someone who can bowl 5-6 overs in a row not giving away runs, allowing the bowler in the other end to attack. Being a lesser team we cannot attack on both ends. We need to strike a balance. Guys like Nazmul can provide that. Just see how beautifully Sri Lanka uses Kulasekera. Barring his inswingers he doesnt have much skill. He just sticks to the basics, bowls in the channel and allows guys like Malinga, Eranga, etc to attack. This is what we often fail to understand

few points...

Nazmul will not bowl against BD players, he will have to bowl against the best of the world, so I don't see a containing bowler in TEST will make any difference as some of you thinks. They don't make stupid mistakes like our batsman.

I also think unlike ODI, containing bowling have limited impact in test. In ODI containing bowler can create too much pressure to the batman, but not so in TEST, unless its going for a draw and the opponent is running out of overs.

btw here is what our bowlers gave in 1st innings:

	Robiul Islam	15	1	52	2	3.46	(7nb)
	Sohag Gazi	39	4	111	3	2.84
	Abul Hasan	23	4	80	2	3.47	(1w)
	Rubel Hossain	17	5	45	2	2.64

I don't see how much better Nazmul would have done, containing the run.

[mufi_02]

Originally Posted by Jadukor

I would select the following
1. Nazmul Hossain (avg 38.8 per wkt, econ 3.53)
2. Taskin Ahmed (avg 29 per wkt, Econ 3.17 in First Class matches)
3. Gazi (avg 41 per wkt, Econ 3.17)
4. Enamul (avg 39 per wkt, Econ 3.04)
5. Shakib (avg 32 per wkt, Econ 2.86)

Good strong bowling line up but then its not balanced when batting is taking into consideration --

Tamim
2nd useless opener
Ash/Marshall
Shakib
Mominul
Mushy
Nasir
Riyad
Gazi
Enamul
Taskin
Nazmul

That's a 12 men team. Don' know who can we drop from the team. Otherwise the tail would be too long (gazi,enam,nazmul,taskin). I think we can get 2 pacers and shakib + gazi.

[jeesh]

You do realize because we have such "attacking" bowlers we have to often bring in spinners inside the first ten overs with the new ball. In tests and also in ODI's