Discussion: What does Mahmudullah Riyad bring to the team ?

[Imtiaz]

I have been tolerating his presence but yesterday the question popped up - what is he doing here ?

In our very ordinary cricketing history, yesterday was the best executed slog overs. Slog would be the wrong word. It was executed with some class.

What did Mahmudullah do in that period ? - sweet FA.

Some might say, he gave the strike to Alok. Yeah, after wasting two balls before he did so each time.

I choose the last ball of the 40th over as my starting point [ that way we score 101 runs of 10.1 overs ]. 182/5 [ yes with 5 wickets in hand - JS RULZ !!! ]

Batsman: Balls faced : Runs: SR :

Kapali: 38: 76: 200

Mahmudullah: 23: 19: 82

Mahmudullah is the classic bits and pieces player who does everything but would not be selected for any specialist role. Farhad is another such player. Except one thing I will say about Farhad - yesterday he would have had a go. Mahmudullah could have and should have scored another 15 or so runs. We had wickets in hand - a luxury we are not used to. Mashrafe, Farhad and Razzak are all capable of wielding the willow in these situations. I am not saying that we would have necessarily won the match but it would have added another 10% on the likelihood.

His career average may look healthy [ not surprisingly highest amongst Bangladeshis ] @ 35.87 and yesterday he managed to increase that by another 3.25. Coming in at No.7 and scoring at only 68 runs per 100 balls, no wonder his average is inflated.

Compare that to Raqibul, who is clearly a watchful innings builder. Raqibul's SR is 67. Mahmudullah has managed 5 not out's in 13 innings by not taking risks in the death overs. But he is no Michael Bevan.

I can understand he is selected as the "holding" multiskilled player. Mahmudullah's bowling is even less than ordinary. We can no longer afford players who can do a little bit of everything.

But after yesterday we need to revisit our nucleus ODI side. We just about have 11 players who can command a position in at least one department. If they can also bowl/bat additionally that can be a bonus. After Sakib's return, Mahmudullah will have to compete with Alok for the "holding" role - sorry no competition there. They batted side by side for 15 overs, we know who can cut the mustard !

Maybe JS is giving players who he thinks have the ability some leeway. I think he is wrong about Nazim but I was encouraged that he still gave him the third chance. He is , of course, extremely wrong about Rasel. But that is a separate topic.

If, however, the selectors see in Mahmudullah a good potential as a batsman, then very well. Bat him higher where he can build an innings. He seems to be always building an innings - so might as well make it his job.