Day 5 report

IanW · #1 February 19, 2010, 02:09 AM

It is said that a French general described the Charge of the Light Brigade as "C'est magnifque, mais ce n'est pas la guerre" ... "It was magnificent, but it wasn't war".

Sakib's charge on the fifth morning at Hamilton was like that ; coming in on zero with five wickets down and 88 runs on the board, he is not out 98 at lunch with the side at 7-255.

He took it up to the bowlers, hitting an amazing eighteen off one Vettori over.

Musfiquir and Mahmadullah helped, but were out - Musfiqir to an outside edge, and Mahmadullah caught in the deep on the charge - and Shahadat did sterling service with a well-earned and tough no runs. Dont think I'm praising with faint damns there, while Rajib was putting the front foot forward and chancelessly blocking Vettori and Patel, Sakib was scoring at the other end.

Then, his century in the bag after lunch, he went the charge against Southee and was bowled, with resistance rapidly fading thereafter, despite some bright hitting by Shahadat and Shaiful.

The game had been lost the night before, with a series of brain explosions by the alleged batsmen in the Bangladesh top order leaving the bottom five with another mission impossible, but Sakib's Charge caused some nervous moments for the New Zealand fans I shared my tree with, as the runs required went from 300 to 280 to 260 to 240 to 220.

While he was there, all things were possible.

But then he had a brain explosion, and then resistance was futile.

I was there. I saw it ; but I just wish we'd had another 2 wickets in hand when it was on, even if those two were Aftab and Ashraful.

C'est magnifique.

Ian Whitchurch

kalpurush · #2 February 19, 2010, 02:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IanW
While he was there, all things were possible.

But then he had a brain explosion, and then resistance was futile.

Only if our players could prevent ^^^, a Test win isn't far away.

Nice match report, Ian.

1RParker · #3 February 19, 2010, 10:18 AM

Thanks for your reports Ian. great to have eye witness accounts.

The match was lost on day 4 - but Shakib even had me believing for a while. A hero's knock. if we had had a fifty partnership in in the top order then this match could have been won.

Ps - i know u got a t'shirt from the BC board - did you get an opportunity to speak with the coaching staff at all? they all looked pretty accessibke on telly.

Ajfar · #4 February 19, 2010, 10:23 AM

Ian you need to go to bangladesh and watch the world cup opening match. History shall be written all over again.

Ashfaq · #5 February 19, 2010, 10:54 AM

May be I'm biased but your report is better than CI report.

"Shakib the Magnificent" seems like a fitting title for how Shakib played in this match.

SMHasan · #6 February 19, 2010, 12:24 PM

Thanks Ian.

I wonder why Shakib played that rush shot when he got the century. He should have taken the guard newly and start over again. I understand that there was no specialist batsman on the other side still he could have continued till the end.

With due respect I would say that we should keep our emotions out of the way and bring more professionalism. Shakib got his 100 and right then he got himself out- that didn't look nice. Still well done my man.

Despite poor run of form by our number 3, 4 and 5 batsman we are improving, we are taking challenges more often.

England- be careful!!!

Ananna · #7 February 19, 2010, 12:28 PM

Just need better performances from 3 thru 5. We are good to go. Rest of the positions are doing fine. To win maches alteast 3 players have to perform in the same match.

Tigers_eye · #8 February 19, 2010, 01:28 PM

Good one again. Thanks for sharing all the experiences!! I am sure you will cherish these 5 days. May be one day tell your grand kids, "I was there when he got his first."

Kabir · #9 February 19, 2010, 01:28 PM

Brain explosion after reaching milestones is normal. It happens all time time...with the best of the best. However, given the situation, where he knew that he was the last batsman standing, he should've played with minimum risk.

From 88-5 on day 4 to 280 and 120 runs loss, I think this is a far cry from an innings + 200 runs loss that we're used to.

This type of show was displayed in the last few tests. I really hope that we can continue this. We're not pushovers for ODIs, but always been for Tests. If this trend can continue, hopefully we won't remain a pushover for Tests anymore.

Hopefully I'm not day dreaming.

meazz1 · #10 February 19, 2010, 02:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IanW

I was there. I saw it ; but I just wish we'd had another 2 wickets in hand when it was on, even if those two were Aftab and Ashraful.

C'est magnifique.

Ian Whitchurch

Very nice report. above is the best part.

auntu · #11 February 21, 2010, 10:34 PM

I was looking forward for Ian's report.
After 3 days break I wanted to read his report first.
Thanks. A test win is not far away from us.

IanW · #12 October 27, 2011, 12:22 AM

The single best thing the BCB could do is put a bunch of these down.

http://www.petermirandasports.com.au...cricket_pitch/

Artificial turf cricket pitches for consistent, reliable, bounce and a little bit of turn. Australian sub-district cricket is built on them.

Ian Pont · #13 October 27, 2011, 12:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IanW
The single best thing the BCB could do is put a bunch of these down.

http://www.petermirandasports.com.au...cricket_pitch/

Artificial turf cricket pitches for consistent, reliable, bounce and a little bit of turn. Australian sub-district cricket is built on them.

Problem is Ian, the proper pitches are turf and to raise an entire nation on artificial surfaces is not the answer. Whilst it might work in the lowest levels of Australian cricket there isn't a desire for pitches that will bear little or no resemblance to anything else in Bangladesh.

The simple answer is to do what Sri Lanka did - dig up and re-lay the surfaces of the entire first-class system after adding in a sub surface that produces bounce and pace. I think it is no coincidence that 5 years after doing this, Sri Lanka won the World Cup, and some 16 years on, can produce fast bowlers who are least competitive or even, in Malinga's case, world class. Plus it hasn't stopped Murali or Mendis coming through.

It is always hard for a cricket board to have the guts to take difficult decisions. In life, the urgent overtakes the important. Changing pitch conditions is hugely important but whether it is seen as urgent is another matter.

If I was in charge at the BCB I would make this my number one priority as it will also assist in helping raise the quality and standard of first-class cricket. As will coach education.

I am not sure a few artificial pitches - as good as they are for kids - is really the answer to Bangladesh's problems

IanW · #14 October 27, 2011, 01:30 AM

Ian,

The reason I think artificial pitches are a solution is because they are cheap enough to install at club- and sub-district level.

I also see the fact that they resemble nothing else in Bangladesh in terms of pace and bounce as a good thing - they will be the pitches the young quicks want to bowl on, and they will be the pitches that teach young batsmen what to hook and what to evade.

They'd be like touring to a foriegn country.

I honestly didnt know re-laying pitches to radically change their nature was possible ... whats the rough cost of doing so ?