Bangladesh declares playing XI for the first Test, SN back, 3 pacers and 2 spinners

[Tiger Manc]

Originally Posted by BD-Shardul
BCB is again sending him to Aus so that he can see his doctor. If his doctor gives the green light, he will play a match for Khulna in the NCL and if everything goes well, will lead Bangladesh against New Zealand.

Good to hear! Hope everything goes well for him!

[WarWolf]

I just love the team. Finally the management understood the importance of 3 seamers.

Another reason which played a big role behind the decision is the weather. A big cold wave is still passing through the country. Today most of the time sun was unavailable due to fog and cloud. If the condition continues to persist, it will be an ideal seaming condition.

[shajib14]

I agree with few others that Robin could have been a better option because all the three pacers are similar, hit the deck hard and generate pace. A genuine swing bowler could have brought some variation in the pace attack. Apart from that good selection.

[Tiger Manc]

Originally Posted by rafi_mc69
Robin would be better choice than one of Shahadat or Shafiul or Rubel. They all are same type of bowler who rely mostly pace and hit the deck hard. Robin inclusion would give the team more variation as he is a genuine swinger of call.
Btw it is good to see they picked 8 batsmen. Our no.8 batsman is Riad, the most solid batsman of bd in last tri-series.wow

you made a valid point there

[Beamer]

Pretty bold team. Three pacers in BD? That's new! I suspect the pitch might favor the pacers more, unless off course they mow it down overnight, and in that case, Enam will come in. If we go with three pacers, I would ask Ash to get prepared to bowl a lot more. He can be a handy leg spinner if he puts his mind to it.

[BANFAN]

Batting wise it's a Good team, but don't know if three specialist pacer & No specialist spinner is a good choice. However not bad. If Mullah /shakib anyone is flop, we don't have any alternative at all.

[cricket_pagol]

I am happy with the inclusion of three pacers... with enamul's recent track record in test matches/domestic circuit, he would not have made a difference against India. It's time for our pacers to take some leadership for our bowling.

[Nafi]

Shakib counts as a specialist spinner, he is better than Harbajhan/Mishra/Ojha

[bd fan]

Is one specialist spinner (shakib) and one part time spinner (Mahmudullah) really enough?!
I thought spin was our strength

[Imtiazk]

Originally Posted by Miraz
Bangladesh has opted for 3 pacers and 2 spinners for the first Test.

9. Shahadat Hossain
10. Rubel Hossain
11. Shafiul Islam

Is this one, two or three too many ? A late Christmas present to India ?

[Imtiazk]

Currently, Bangladesh's best batsman is coming in at No.8 !

[WarWolf]

Originally Posted by bd fan
Is one specialist spinner (shakib) and one part time spinner (Mahmudullah) really enough?!
I thought spin was our strength

Ash will be a good part time support to them.

[Nafi]

Originally Posted by bd fan
Is one specialist spinner (shakib) and one part time spinner (Mahmudullah) really enough?!
I thought spin was our strength

How many experienced decent test spinners do we have:

Shakib, thats it

How many experienced decent test pacers do we have

Mashrafe - (out injured)
Shahadat (when he was good)

I refuse to believe Shafiul will come in, instead of Robin.

Robin is the only genuine swinger of the ball IN THE WHOLE OF BANGLADESH

[Beamer]

Originally Posted by Imtiazk
Currently, Bangladesh's best batsman is coming in at No.8 !

Ha ha..true. But, I have a feeling that he will have a big role to play with his bat. Maybe, he can come in as a nightwatchman in one of these games, and show everybody that belongs in the middle order.

[Nafi]

Riyad needs more Not outs, to improve his test average

Hence why he shouldn't complain

[Neel Here]

Originally Posted by BD-Shardul
BCB is again sending him to Aus so that he can see his doctor. If his doctor gives the green light, he will play a match for Khulna in the NCL and if everything goes well, will lead Bangladesh against New Zealand.

too bad. I was hoping to see him play against Ind. during the tri-series people were saying he will play in the tests.

[chol_bd123]

I want to see some incutters in the beginning to get the openers out early on.
I don't think that 1 specialist spinner is enough for the match. SO Sakib will probably have Ash bowl 5-10 overs.

And about SN. I didnt want him in the team or the squad. Everyone else on BC was praising him he is better then Imrul and Zunaid. SO you guys better be right. I want to see him score at least a 50.

[Tendulkar_Mcgrath]

Originally Posted by chol_bd123
I want to see some incutters in the beginning to get the openers out early on.
I don't think that 1 specialist spinner is enough for the match. SO Sakib will probably have Ash bowl 5-10 overs.
And about SN. I didnt want him in the team or the squad. Everyone else on BC was praising him he is better then Imrul and Zunaid. SO you guys better be right. I want to see him score at least a 50.

I also prefer Ashraful to bowl few overs. Because its not about runs. Its about wickets. You never know ashrafuls non-special legbreak might let 1/2 wickets to fall..

[_Rafi_]

SN lacks match practice for longer version. he didnt play any 1st class match for a year or more. Now les see how he adopt in test despite the lackings

[Dhruvo]

I'm content with the selection, not much to complain about. Although it would have been nice to see robin in place of shafiul. But I think playing shafiul and rubel in test matches from now on will be good for us in the long term, since there are no limitations in terms of overs for a bowler our young pacers can experiment with different deliveries, line and length freely.

[Purbasha T]

Only Robin intead of Rubel would've been my choice, rest are fine. But to be fair to Rubel, he is yet to play a test at home...so let's see what he can do at home.

[Nafi]

Hoping for Shafiul to gets five-for in the first match, then tears a hamstring and makes way for Robin who gets a 10 wicket haul

[fais]

lets kick some Indi A**

[Rizvi]

lol Nafi why such fascination with Robin? family member? I understand the few reverse swings he pruduced for "dot balls" but he never dominated by taking wickets....

I think it's a good move to get a solid evaluation by giving the new guns a full series....

[Maximillian]

Robyn with his "reverse" swings may unsettle the batsmen at times, when they were planning on taking him for granted. But that's really it. Where is Robyn going w/ the Test team...most people will agree...nowhere.

Instead, BCB probably knows how badly Masri is hurt, and want to rely on him as little as possible. They want a Masri II as fast as possible and want the 2 underlings to get as much exposure as possible. That is the good part. Its just that they ought to have arrnged some tutorship under a well known fast bowler from the past.

Remember, Masri's debut was made very conducive to success - that stint with Andy, and then debut against NZ under very seam friendly conditions.

So give the 2 young fast bowlers a chance...that's the best bet for BD....Robyn is just another of our oversupply of medium pace trundlers...with an occassional good ball...that many of you very diligently pull out from the CI commentary..for what purpose, I don't know.