Is our present team better than that in the 2007 WC?

[AK420]

After Bangladesh's outstanding performance in the worldcup, we are starting to lose our grip and transforming back to a poor side, like that before our first test win.

Look, our win percentage in this year is exactly 0 in all formats of the game. After our win against Australia in 2005, the world believed that Bangladesh will turn out into a strong team within 5 years. This seemed possible after our performance in the WC. But now, people don't hesitate to call us a 'poor' or 'ordinary' team. They think playing against BD is a complete waste of time. Infact, we need to agree that our present side is much poorer than anyone could have antisipated long before.

[Bruno]

You are correct. WC 07 had some features outstanding:

In-form Mashrafe Mortaza (Peak)
In-form Abdur Razzak (Peak)
In form Mohammad Rafique (Def. Peak)

In form Shakib (Breakout)
In form Tamim (Breakout)
In form Rasel (Breakout)
In form Bashar (Peak)
Lets look at the squad now:

Mashrafe (injured and out)
Abdur Razzak (action changed and getting back to form)
Rafique (retired)

Shakib (Peak)
Tamim (Peak)
Rasel (out)
Bashar (retired)

As we all know, those are the only 2 weapons remaining. The rest are still coming along. But not too many guys at their peak. Certainly no experience backing it up,with Bashar and Rafique in WC 07.

[Ananna]

Originally Posted by Bruno
You are correct. WC 07 had some features outstanding:

In-form Mashrafe Mortaza (Peak)
In-form Abdur Razzak (Peak)
In form Mohammad Rafique (Def. Peak)

In form Shakib (Breakout)
In form Tamim (Breakout)
In form Rasel (Breakout)
In form Bashar (Peak)
Lets look at the squad now:

Mashrafe (injured and out)
Abdur Razzak (action changed and getting back to form)
Rafique (retired)

Shakib (Peak)
Tamim (Peak)
Rasel (out)
Bashar (retired)

As we all know, those are the only 2 weapons remaining. The rest are still coming along. But not too many guys at their peak. Certainly no experience backing it up,with Bashar and Rafique in WC 07.

Bashar was in-form (Peak) during 2007 WC??????????????? You've gotta be kidding me!!
He hardly scored any runs.

[Raynman]

using the WC as a bench mark, 2007 was light years beyond 2003. To match the 2007 benchmark, anything short of advancing (which means into quarter finals) and winning a 2nd round match (so semi finals) in 2011 will be considered a backward step.

2007 highlights : Beating underranked team as expected (Bermuda) and taking out a top ranked team (IND) to qualify. An upset in next round (SA). Only blemish is the loss to IRE although that didn't impact much as far as us finishing 7th on the list.

So 2011 requires us to beat IRE and NED as expected, take out one of the higher ranks (IND, SA, ENG, WI) to advance to QF and win there. Given that we have home field for all of our group games and possibly the QF (unless we meet SL as the #3 or #4 from our group), those are reasonable expectations.

Our current team has better batting but the other 40 overs (besides Shakib) are a HUGE concern. In 2007, we had Mash, Rasel, Razzak, Rafique, Shakib for solid bowling but not the batting line up to back it up.

[Tigers_eye]

Is our present team better than that in the 2007 WC?

Player by player comparison (ODIs only) (My evaluation)

2007 WC - 2010 Current
Tamim <<< Tamim
SN/JO = Imrul/Junaid
Aftab = Aftab
Shakib > Roc
Ashraful <<< Shakib
Bashar < Mushi
Mushfiq << Riyad
+++
Mash > Naeem
Mo Rafique >>> Shafiul
Raj > Raj
Rasel >> Rubel.

Personel wise 2007 team has more better players. However, overall I would back this team in a 3/5/7 match series.

The replacements are not that level but improving. Potentially current team is much better. Up and down form of Raj is a concern.

[kazis2007]

i will prefer our current team than wc07
Mashrafe (inform will be peak)
Abdur Razzak (action changed and will back to form)
Shuvo (will be new cricket hero)
Shakib (Peak)
Tamim (Peak)
Aftab (back to his own style)
Ashraful (confused?)
Mahmudullah(new hero)
nayeem(will prove himself)
mshfiq(i hope he will recover his position behind the wicket)
OMG atleast 5-6 heroes

[AK420]

Originally Posted by Raynman
using the WC as a bench mark, 2007 was light years beyond 2003. To match the 2007 benchmark, anything short of advancing (which means into quarter finals) and winning a 2nd round match (so semi finals) in 2011 will be considered a backward step.

2007 highlights : Beating underranked team as expected (Bermuda) and taking out a top ranked team (IND) to qualify. An upset in next round (SA). Only blemish is the loss to IRE although that didn't impact much as far as us finishing 7th on the list.

So 2011 requires us to beat IRE and NED as expected, take out one of the higher ranks (IND, SA, ENG, WI) to advance to QF and win there. Given that we have home field for all of our group games and possibly the QF (unless we meet SL as the #3 or #4 from our group), those are reasonable expectations.

Our current team has better batting but the other 40 overs (besides Shakib) are a HUGE concern. In 2007, we had Mash, Rasel, Razzak, Rafique, Shakib for solid bowling but not the batting line up to back it up.

Undoubtedly

With the condition our team is in now, we have to think of not being humiliated by IRE OR NET rather than focusing on the quarter finals. And we once thought that BD will win the WC 2011, THATS A BILLION LIGHT YEARS AHEAD. We have no other choice but to look at WC 2019(To be held in ENGLAND).

[AsifTheManRahman]

The bowling was much better in 2007. No comparison. None whatsoever. Nope.

The batting might be a bit stronger with some individuals stepping up over the years. But only slightly.

[Tigers_eye]

Originally Posted by AK420
Undoubtedly

With the condition our team is in now, we have to think of not being humiliated by IRE OR NET rather than focusing on the quarter finals. And we once thought that BD will win the WC 2011, ....

Who are "we" and when was that?

[Bruno]

Tiger's eye,

Did you notice how all your arrows of WC bowlers have the greater sign than the current members. Its sickening now that I think abt it, how 40 overs in a 50 over game is basically a gamble now. Bowling used to be our strength not too long ago.

[Tigers_eye]

Originally Posted by Bruno
Tiger's eye,

Did you notice how all your arrows of WC bowlers have the greater sign than the current members. Its sickening now that I think abt it, how 40 overs in a 50 over game is basically a gamble now. Bowling used to be our strength not too long ago.

yes, sir!! And I know it is the mgmt who forcefully retired Mo Rafique without a replacement. I understand at 41/42 you can't play in WC, yet they could prolong Mo Rafique's career a bit and groom others. Even now mgmt can get Mo Rafique as a consultant for our SLAs. They thought Raj was the apparent heir but he has problems. If Shakib's groin flairs up again we will be at the mercy of Afgans.