Points to ponder: Learning points from January 2010

[Raynman]

I've been on a self imposed ban in posting here for over a month to not let Cricket consume too much of my life. But I thought I'd weigh in with my opinion after a busy cricket month of january.


1. When bringing in new players (including the ICLers) into the mix, give them a fair chance. Doesn't have to be announced publicly but let them know that they have 3 or 4 matches to prove themselves. At least they can play without too much pressure of thinking that one bad innings and I'm out.

2. Pick player based on format. SN should have been on the ODI XI, not a reserve and not in the main XI in the Test after such a long lay off from the long form. Junaid should not have been dropped from Tests to begin with.

3. Don't label players based on notable performances. Everyone focused on the 9 ball 22 of Naeem but few talked about the other matches where he rotated the singles to give Riyad strike when Riyadh was on song. He would have been a good addition to the Test team.

4. Make a decision on Ash. If he deserving, pick him and don't go about saying he's only there because there's no one better. If not, drop him and give someone else an extended run. If he's picked as a veteren, he's role would be to guide the youngsters. I doubt Tamim, Junaid, Mush, Riad has much to learn from him.

5. If Riyadh and Mushy are pulling their weight and role, what is the point of Raqibul in the team?

6. Acknowledge that Shakib is a bowling all rounder and hence, his batting position should be lower down the order. His innings are always shaky but his success rate (high for a Bangladeshi batsmen) in big scores constantly muddies the fact that he is really not a top order batsmen.

7. Reward improvements with promotions up the order (Mushy, Riyadh, Naeem)

8. Riyad and Tamim are proof that Siddons has a lot to offer as a batting coach. I'm just not convinced about him as a head coach. There is still an old school thinking with him but truth is, the game has modernized quite a bit.

9. Its true we have improved but not at the pace the other teams have. We are celebrating scoring 250 in ODIs when the other teams have moved on to 300+ on a regular basis.

10. We need to get our in house affairs in order as there seems to be a huge gap in communication between BCB vs. Captain and Coach vs. Selectors. Everyone knows the Lotus-Shakib debate brewing. What was also concerning was Siddons commenting that ICLers won't be rushed back and then SN is in the XI, then Siddons (& Tamim) says that SN wil get at least another shot and he is dropped.

11. We are still intimidated (regardless of what Tamim says) by the G8 oppositions. We let Tendulkar get back to back centuries by dropping him multiple times in each innings. All our losses were architected by the expected names : Dilshan, Dhoni, Tendulkar etc.

12. Fielding was crap but I think the main reason was focus and the inability to stay within the game when not involved directly. Same goes for batting. Shakib's comments about the dressing room during the Shahadat/Ash partnership proves it. Those guilty with dropped catches were primarily those failing to deliver with the bat.

13. Shakib needs to trust his players more and needs to take less on his shoulders. Him bowling first to defend 2 runs is a prime example. The new ball is Shafiul's. He's not a baby and can deal with it if the winning runs were hit off of him.

14. We need to focus on batting in partnerships. Even though Tamim had 150+, when Zunaid got out he was in a new partnership where the total was 0. Each batsmen needs to treat each partnership with care like they would if they themselves were sitting at 0.

15. For God's sake, learn from your mistakes. Riyad learned from 1st test of how important it is to shield the tail and showed that in the 2nd test. Shakib and Ash decided to go the gambling route (You keep betting on the same thing and eventually you'll hit but there's a good chance you go bankrupt before that happens).

[Tigers_eye]

Originally Posted by Raynman
I've been on a self imposed ban in posting here for over a month to not let Cricket consume too much of my life. ....

Why do we have to suffer for your blah blah...? BC is more important than your life.

Missed your record setting thread very very much. This would have been a great series. 200 partnership, 151, Mushi-Riyad partnership, Mushi's ton....

Welcome back and don't leave us.

[Raynman]

Originally Posted by Tigers_eye
Why do we have to suffer for your blah blah...? BC is more important than your life.

Missed your record setting thread very very much. This would have been a great series. 200 partnership, 151, Mushi-Riyad partnership, Mushi's ton....

Welcome back and don't leave us.

I'll be back strong with the NZ tour. The BD trip gave me a nice break with limited internet access but now I guess I gotta find ways to make my work day go faster ;p

[magic boy]

welcome back...nice post mind refreshing

[Raynman]

Originally Posted by magic boy
welcome back...nice post mind refreshing

thanks. Good to be back

[Eshen]

SN did not warrant a place in any team based on his DPL stats, where he scored mostly against bottom of the table teams. His inclusion in the Test team was more out of desperation since we are so short of Test class batsmen.

But yes, that was a good lesson why it's important to use proper criteria when you select a player.

[Beamer]

Indeed. Some great points to ponder.

[Eshen]

IMO, our management and selectors got to stop being so nostalgic. Ashraful is still in the team because he scored a century a year ago; SN was called back because he had couple of good scores even before that; Shakib was sent before Mushfiq and Mahmudullah because his past scores, although the other two shown vast improvements both in technique and attitude.

Not sure why Raqibul is still in the team. The way he struggled against rising deliveries, New Zealand is the last place he should go now. His lack of confidence is apparently is also effecting his fielding. All the signs are there that the guy needs a break, yet the management and selectors fail to see it!

[Raynman]

The body language of players while not engaged in play was concerning. Even with India collapsing in Test 1 innings 1, the fielders did not seem energized and prepared with each delivery. And thats where dropped catches, misfields and overthrows originate.

When Shahadat is scoring runs, your thought as Shakib, Raqib, Mushy and Riyadh should not be 'batting should be easy if SH can score', it should be 'what is SH doing right and how can I benefit from it'.

The final result is as expected but it was obvious that we still lack the killer instinct and to execute when we have the upperhand.

[Eshen]

BTW, how is that BCB still have not appointed a fielding coach? Kalpage apparently had no effect on fielders.

[zainab]

Originally Posted by Eshen
BTW, how is that BCB still have not appointed a fielding coach? Kalpage apparently had no effect on fielders.

They do not want to spend the money I guess. they should appoint a fielding specialist on a short term basis like India and Sri lanka, but I guess they want one when the team is in Bd.