Bangladesh v New Zealand - A Positive temperament and consistency will be the key

The New Zealand cricket team has arrived in Dhaka to play a five-match One-day series against the Tigers. All the matches will be played at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur. It’s the third time that the Kiwis will be visiting Bangladesh. Earlier they visited in 2004 and in 2008.

It was supposed to be a three-match ODI series and two-match Test series, but the New Zealand Cricket Board have declined to play the Test matches and for which five One-day matches will be played instead of those two Test matches. The New Zealand Cricket Board wanted to focus more on the limited-over matches keeping in mind the next year’s World Cup.

But, surprisingly, the Kiwis will fly to India to play a two-match Test series followed by five ODIs. Why will they play two Tests against India and not Bangladesh? The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) should have asked this question to the New Zealand Cricket Board. But, it’s hard to expect such from the BCB as they lack the cozones and they are more habituated to bow down rather than showing some guts.

New Zealand’s such sort of attitude deserve an answer and for which the Tigers must give their best shot in the upcoming five-match ODI series.   

In 2004 the Tigers were defeated badly by the Kiwis in both the Test and ODI series. But during the 2008 series, the Tigers did put up a very inspiring performance in both the Test and ODI series. They trounced the Kiwis by seven wickets in the first ODI at Mirpur but they failed to hold a firm grip on this advantage and went on to lose the final two ODIs. Again, in the first Test at Chittagong, the Tigers almost packed the match in their bag, but some poor tactical moves, Bangladesh failed to win that Test match. The final Test was washed away by rain.

Since then Bangladesh as a team have been improving. The Tigers might not have won that many matches but have earned praises and respect from the critics and avid cricket followers. Over the years, some fantastic talents have emerged who can run any opposition for their money.  

For the New Zealand ODI series the Tigers will not get the service of Tamim Iqbal who has had a brilliant season with the bat this year. This certainly is a big blow for the Tigers.   His absence will be felt. But that makes the way for the once mighty Shariar Nafees to get back in rhythm.

Bangladesh have a top and a middle-order which in terms of average and on strike rate is much better than the Kiwis. The Kiwi bowling is heavily dependent on only one man and he is none but Daniel Vettori. Whereas, Bangladesh have men like Mashrafee Mortaza, Shakib Al Hasan, Abdur Razzak and co. – Bangladesh do hold the edge here.

The ODI also offers a great contest between the two best left-arm allrounders in the world, Shakib Al Hasan and Daniel Vettori. Shakib had a great County season with Worcestershire. It’s expected that he will continue his good run during the ODI series too.

But the Tigers lack temperament and consistency. Perhaps, for this reason the good performances are not turned into winning ones. It’s the temperament that separates the good ones from the best.

For the last one year, the Tigers performance had been too good to be reckoned. But they are not winning matches as many according to their efforts and talents. The tendency to finish on a winning note lacks among the Tigers.

Again, we are not consistent. Apart from Tamim and Shakib none of the Tigers score runs or take wickets on a regular basis. This is a negative side which should have been overcome a lot earlier. Such inconsistency had cost us matches in the past. Perhaps, when a batsmen or a bowler do well in a match then they start to bask in glory and they become over confident. And that affects their performance in the next match.

In cricket or any other sports every match is a new match. If you don’t perform well on a regular basis and sparkle after many matches then your place in the team bears no importance and for which Mohamamd Ashraful had to be omitted from the team. 

During the Kiwis last tour to Bangladesh in 2008, in the ODI series, even being one down the Kiwis fought back to beat us. The only reason which made the Tigers to lose the series was nothing but complacency and poor temperament. Otherwise we could have win the ODI series.

A positive temperament and consistency will be the key to the Tigers against the Kiwis in the upcoming series. If not, then perhaps the Tigers might again be humiliated by the Kiwis even though potentially the Tigers are far better than the Kiwis.

Thank You

Faisal Caesar