Bangladesh will roar

Whenever Bangladesh enter into a Test series the first thing we hear from the cricket pundits, mostly from the west, is the eligibility of Bangladesh's Test status. They question the Tigers’ cricketing abilities in various fashions. But one thing they don't realize and which is, the time-period of our existence in Test cricket and the average age of our cricketers. Since our entry in Test cricket the graph of our cricket is not downwards but it's going upwards.

India made its debut as a Test playing nation in 1932. But they had to wait till 1952 for the first Test victory. NZL in its first ten years in Test cricket never tasted a Test victory. Sri Lanka from 1982-1992 in their first ten years in Test cricket won just two Test matches. In contrast Bangladesh’s results have been better. It have won three Test matches and those were series winning ones. A Test series win against the West Indies at their own backyard is a great achievement. Pakistan and Sri Lanka are yet to win a Test series from the West Indies. Bangladesh in its first ten years have won a Test series from abroad. India or Sri Lanka didn't achieve that. So, are the Kiwis!

Bangladesh are a young side. The average age is above twenty. To point finger towards this young side's ability is quite funny. Rather the critics must praise this young side’s efforts and guts. Bangladeshi young guns are giving their all on the field. Not a single sign of lackluster attitude is being noticed from them. But they are loosing. There remain the "ifs" and "buts". But these "ifs" and "buts" were part and parcel of all those teams who were in their early stage in Test cricket. Rome was not built in a day.

If we take a look on the individual performers then Bangladesh have been blessed with talents of rare breed. Their captain Shakib Al Hasan is the best left-arm spinner in the world and obviously the best allrounder at present. He is a genuine match winner who is always there when the team needs him. In Tamim Iqbal Bangladesh have an opener who can attack the bowlers and can make a mess of their line and length. In Mortaza they have a pace bowler who can fetch wickets according to the demand of the situation. Men like Mushfiqur Rahim, Mahmudullah Riad and Naim are the talents bustling with energy. These players can be deadly on their day. They have the ability to win matches. But perhaps the temperament isn't there. I would say it's the temperament which is denying the Tigers from victory.

But Bangladesh need to be optimistic. They must believe that they can win. Bangladesh is improving every day.  Our cricketing observers and planners must select those 5 to 6 players who are match winners and rotate other players around them. Bob Simpson and Imran Khan used such tactics. In a playing XI all aren't the best (except Lloyd's WI and Steve Waugh's Australia). It's those match winners who guides a team to its ultimate glory. And others perform under them. Even an average player does something amazing under those superstars.

Selecting the match winners is very important so as selecting those players who will rotate around them. The players who will play under the match winners must be well supportive. In the Mirpur Test against England, the Bangladeshi selectors played Razzak instead of Enamul Haque jnr. Razzak is an ODI stuff whereas Enamul Haque is much effective in the Tests. Enamul could have been a great support for Shakib rather than Razzak. That's why brains and not whims are needed. At present Shakib and Tamim (Ashraful and Mortaza's absence are handy) are the genuine match winners. But they lack support. There are players coming in the likes of Riyad and Rahim. But they need to be a seasonal performer. Bangladesh need a pacer to support Mashrafe. Rubel Hossain has pace but sadly he gets carried away. He needs nurturing and Mohammad Ashraful must wake up if he wish to prolong his career. 

Again, our Cricket Board needs to understand what actually the home advantage is. Even on the final day the pitch didn't turn. Why? Having two left-arm spinners in a team is not a joke. Spinners are our wicket takers. If they don't find something on the 5th day track then it's a pity state. Will England prepare such tracks when we tour them? No!

Overall, our cricket is improving. But the BCB should also act accordingly via a perfect planning. In the history of every successful cricket team there had been a Cricket Board blessed with smarter brains.

I hope the BCB will be such an institution. Bangladesh cricket will roar! And the critics’ mouth will shut down!

Thank You

Faisal Caesar