Bangladesh v New Zealand - A positive temperament has paid off

Have the Tigers started to change? The touch of lackluster attitude has subsided and it is replaced by a more energetic one. The Tigers play to win a match rather than winning hearts. They are beaming with confidence and they don’t wish to accept defeats without a fight. Temperamentally, the Tigers have developed well enough to challenge the very best.

Before the five-match One-day series against New Zealand had started, hardly anyone gave the Tigers a chance. And surely, the Tigers were not to be counted as because their previous records against the visitors had been shoddy. To beat a team like New Zealand, a positive temperament was much needed. But whether the Tigers would be able to exhibit that remained dubious as because till now, they have not been able to rise to the occasion when it mattered the most. Most of the times our boys ended up with eggs on their face.

But not this time though.

The Tigers had notched up a 4-0 Banglawash against the rampant Kiwis and thus raising eyebrows of many cricket pundits who had written off the boys before the start of the ODI series. The reason behind this eye-popping performance was all because of a positive temperament. The Tigers believed in themselves more than ever and this has led to something big.

From the players to coaching stuff, everyone believed that the Tigers could do it and they backed their dreams with enough hard work. It’s time for the Tigers to celebrate but not let this success get into their head as because still there is plenty to prove.

Thank You

Faisal Caesar  

Banglawash!

It was a pressure cooker situation at the Mirpur Cricket Stadium when just four runs were needed off four balls. Kyle Mills, who had previously exploited the batting Powerplay at its maximum best, was looking dangerous and was all set to pull off a ripper of a match and arrest the whitewash. But it was not to be as a Rubel Hossain yorker simply dented the hopes of Kiwis and Bangladesh had completed a 4-0 whitewash.

In the morning, while the Tigers were at bay against the Kiwi attack. The Kiwis made early inroads by sending the top four Bangladeshi batsmen to the pavilion. The Bangladeshi batsmen were stiffed legged, played too many loose shots, and no urge to build partnerships, and thus, they were booked for just 174.

Confidence and determination are the things that aid a team to dream big. The Bangladeshi boys were beaming with confidence and they seemed to be determined to win this match at any cost, the perfect temperament which is needed to conquer the impossible things.

Rubel Hossain, blessed with talent and pace but not enough control, ripped through the New Zealand top order with a lively spell of pace bowling. The Kiwis were reeling at 16 for 4 – Rubel claiming all those three wickets. Ian Pont seemed to have fixed his bowling well!

At 20 for 5, Daniel Vettori, being dropped once, played with enough composure to bring the Kiwis out of the quagmire. With Elliot, Vettori essayed an 86-run stand for the sixth wicket. Bangladesh were in need of a breakthrough and who else can be better than Shakib Al Hasan? He fetched the wicket of Vettori and brought back Bangladesh into the game. 

When Nathan McCullum was castled by Shakib, the Kiwis were 119 for 7, but Elliot denied giving up. He was batting with enough confidence and tackled the left-arm spinners of Bangladesh. But Shuvo ended the gutsy knock of 59 by Elliot while Razzak trapped Mckay lbw for a duck and at 145 for 9, it seemed all over for New Zealand.

In starts the Mills show. In the batting Powerplay, with the last man Bennet who faced 11 balls but couldn’t score, Mills flexed his muscles to score runs and thus took the match down the wire.

In the last over 8 runs were needed. Shakib gave the ball to his inform paceman, Rubel Hossain. But Rubel’s first ball was dispatched for a boundary. The horrors of the last year’s tri-nation final against the Lankans were visiting again. But the third ball was a pinpoint yorker to seal an astonishing win for the Tigers.

The Tigers had scripted the Banglawash!

Thank You

Faisal Caesar 

Bangladesh cricket - It's time to create history

The series have been won without conceding a defeat so far. The final One-day international would be played at Mirpur and what should be the mood in the Tiger’s camp? Relaxed one? Or, the motto of a complete whitewash? The way the boys are playing so far, I am sure Shakib and co would be thinking of a 4-0 victory.

On October 17, 2010, the Tigers would have an opportunity to whitewash atop ranked team of world cricket and moreover if they can complete this whitewash then they will be bale to go ahead of West Indies in the ICC ODI ranking.

Before the series started hardly anyone gave the Tigers a chance against Daniel Vettori’s men. But as soon as the series commenced, it was a different story altogether – New Zealand have been completely outclassed till now.

The Tigers now play to win rather than end up saying, “We are improving”. Even when the series has been confirmed, the Tigers are not interest to sit back and relax but improve more.

Daniel Vettori and his men will try their heart and soul to arrest the clean sweep by the Tigers. But I say it will be tough to combat against a unit which is beaming with confidence and it will be tough to disturb the focus of a team which plays only for win. The Kiwis are surely, realizing the power and guts of the young Bangladeshi boys.

It’s now time to create new history and it’s now time to focus on a clean sweep.  

Thank You

Faisal Caesar

Bangladesh cricket - Wisden Cricketer's Magazine honours Tamim Iqbal

 Dashing batsman Tamim Iqbal has been named Wisden Cricket magazine’s Test player of the year. While ICC omitted his name from the final list of the Test cricketer of the award list, the Wisden Cricketer Magazine seemed to have other ideas. Tamim’s majestic form over the last one year earned him this honour.

The award is calculated by the marks out of 10 that the Wisden Cricketer's reporters give each player at every Test and is the second successive time a Bangladeshi player has won the award after Shakib Al Hasan won last year.

Tamim scored 837 runs at 59.78 in seven Tests during 2010, despite Bangladesh failing to win a single Test during the year. But the bat of Tamim was on song consistently. He started the year with a bang by scoring a swashbuckling 151 against India this year at Dhaka and his bat continued to fetch runs for Bangladesh in the home series against England as well.

In England, Tamim’s bat boomed again. He became the first Bangladeshi to score a hundred at Lord's. While the others found it tough to cope with the English attack, Tamim was found well-equipped against the English pace and spin attack. He created history by becoming the first Bangladeshi to score a hundred at Lord's and followed it up with another dashing hundred at Manchester.

Tamim defeated the likes of Sachin Tendulkar who has just climbed to the number one spot in the ICC Test batsman ranking after eight years, Virender Sehwag who has won the ICC Test player of the year this year, Graeme Swann, Simon Katich and the likes of Dale Steyn. The ICC, who has been accused of being too biased, couldn’t really judge the merit of Tamim’s performance over the last one year while Wisden Cricketer Magazine seems to have an unbiased judgment.

Such awards are very encouraging and an indication that Bangladesh cricket is changing. Some high profile cricketers are in the making for Bangladesh. This is an answer to those who are always vociferous about Bangladesh's omission from Test cricket.

Thank You

Faisal Caesar

Bangladesh v New Zealand - It's that man Shakib again!

 Perhaps, the hero for which our cricket was waiting for has arrived. Perhaps, the icon for which our cricket badly needed to lift itself up has arrived. He is proving to be the torch bearer of hope and symbol of victory in Bangladesh cricket. He is charismatic and a leader. He is none other than the magnificent Shakib Al Hasan.

Again he proved his worth in the fourth one-day international at Mirpur today against the Kiwis. In the battle for the top allrounder of the world Shakib has beaten his counterpart Daniel Vettori on all accounts. Shakib’s majestic allround performance, both with the bat and ball confirmed Bangladesh the most cherished series win against a top ranked opposition. New Zealand were left clueless.

At 35 for 3, the Tigers were in the soup and were in need of stability. When the chips are down, any team always looks towards the captain. The Magura boy entered into the scene and did what a captain should do.

At first he resuscitated the damaged innings with a 53-run stand with Imrul Kayes and then another 51-run stand with Mushfiqur Rahim which met a tragic end due to some disastrous running between the wicket.  When the initial danger was over Shakib’s bat started to boom as he flayed some amazing drives through the off-side field with utmost authority. The spinners were never a scare for Shakib as he played them with ease. With Mahmudullah Riad, Shakib added another 68 runs to boost the Tigers scoreboard.

He picked the gaps well and rotated the strike with merit. The run wheels of Bangladesh kept on moving while the willow of Shakib restored to late dabs and paddle sweeps in the middle part of the innings. A nicely organized innings met a happy end as Shakib brought up his fifth ODI hundred in the 41stover.

When Shakib departed, he had made a foundation for the others to cash on it for a big score. An innings, which had the worst possible start in the early morning had been given proper oxygenation and nutrition by the 106 of Shakib Al Hasan. But sadly, the other batsmen failed to capitalize the good work of their skipper in the batting Power-play as the Tigers were booked for 241-10 in 48.3 overs.

New Zealand’s start was steady but was brought to an end by the cocky Abdur Razzak as he removed Watling in his second over by trapping him lbw. Then the dangerous Brendon McCullum followed Watling as Shafiul Islam took a brilliant reflex catch. Ross Taylor the stalwart of the Kiwi batting lineup was caught at deep square leg by Shafiul Islam off the bowling of the last match hero Suhrawardy Shuvo.

A few overs later, Shakib made Aron Redmond walk for the dressing room as he was given the marching order by the umpires after being trapped lbw. When Vettori hit a ball outside off straight into cover's hands off the bowling of Mahmudullah Riad the Kiwis were at bay at 80-5. The match was almost there for the Tigers for the taking.

But the young Kane Williamson stood steady and was determined to prove a point and kept one end going. With Elliot., he put up a stand of 70 runs and when the seventh wicket fell at 172, Williamson picked up another 53-run stand with Nathan McCullum – an almost dead game came into life.

24 runs were needed of 12 balls with Williamson and McCullum looking in ominous touch. Bangladesh needed a breakthrough and enters the skipper Shakib again. Like the first ODI his left-arm spinners struck gold for the Tigers again in the end overs.

First it was Nathan McCullum who came down and leg scooped Shakib in the air and fell short of the fielder, but an excellent throw from the deep by Naeem hit the stumps to beat McCullum's effort to earn two runs.

Then Tuffey holed out for a golden duck as Bangladesh were on the verge of a historic moment. Shakib finished figures of 3 for 54 in 10 overs, the second of his scalp being Grant Elliot.

In the 50thover Shafiul Islam removed the centurian Williamson who showed enough guts to score a gallant 108. Williamson tried to repeat the stroke which fetched him a boundary in the previous delivery, could only pick out the deep midwicket fielder Rakibul Hasan this time. Bangladesh took a 3-0 lead with just one ODI to go.

It’s for the first time that Bangladesh have won three ODIs in a row against a higher ranked team in international cricket. The Tigers had aimed higher and their strong determination has paid off and it was all possible due to one man’s timely thoughts and efforts – Shakib Al Hasan.

 

Thank You

Faisal Caesar

Bangladesh v New Zealand - It's time for the Tigers to aim higher

Shakib Al Hasan in his recent press meeting with the journalists confidently hinted of a 4-0 whitewash. For the first time in the history of Bangladesh cricket, a captain has sounded full of confidence. His indication of more improvement gave us the message of a captain who wishes to be the best and aim higher.

After the victory in the third ODI, Bangladesh have already secured the series, but it won’t be acceptable for the Bangladesh cricket fans if there is a New Zealand fight back to level the series. A New Zealand fight back would surely make this ODI series more enthralling, but the local cricket fans don’t wish such. They have started to dream of a whitewash.

And it is not an impossible task as because the Tigers are looking extremely competitive and temperamentally enough stronger. Let us wait for another clinical Tiger display.

Thank You

Faisal Caesar

Sachin Tendulkar - There is always something to learn from his batting

It was another well constructive double ton from Sachin Tendulkar. This is not the first time that Sachin has scored such tons but the striking thing about Sachin’s hundreds is the way he scores them. Each of his hundred has a different story, has a different plan and a different charm.

The knock of 214 against Australia is one of those Test hundreds which has been scored through sheer mid games. For Tendulkar there is always a different plan from every opposition captain. Ricky Ponting knew very well that Tendulkar relishes more on boundaries while scoring hundreds and for which he set a field in such a manner to deny Tendulkar from scoring boundaries.

But Tendulkar accepted Ponting’s challenge and relied more on smart accumulations rather than boundaries. More than the fearsome cuts, sublime on drives or majestic whacks over the midwicket and square leg, Tendulkar scripted deft nudges, pushes and silent drives. The good balls were pushed silently while the rippers were tamed with ease. You can only do such things when you have supreme command over your batsmanship and Tendulkar seems to be gaining more command over his batsmanship with the progress of time.

And of course, age has not taken its toll over his mind yet. Sharp singles and twos lie not merely in placing the ball on the bat, but knowing the speed of the ball at which it will travel to the fielder. Tendulkar’s calm and composed mind seems to know the speed of the ball while traveling to fielders. His mind is still sharp to calculate such things. And that’s why he is Sachin Tendulkar – the best of the best of this era.

Thank You

Faisal Caesar  

Bangladesh v New Zealand - An emphatic win for the Tigers

The Tigers have taken an emphatic 2-0 lead in the five-match One-day series against New Zealand. In the third ODI, from the word go, the Tigers were on top of their game. They didn’t show any sign of complacency and maintained their positive mood throughout the match.

Shakib as a captain had been brilliant. His decision to bowl first after winning the toss proved worthy enough when Shafiul grabbed the all important scalp of dangerous Brendan McCullum and when the wicket started to lose its life, Shakib immediately started to operate his spinners. Abdur Razzak and Suhrawardy Shuvo along with Shakib simply left the Kiwis clueless.

Ross Taylor and Kyle Mills lifted New Zealand from the rut but the Kiwis were all out for 173. Shahriar Nafees and Imrul Kayes notched up a spirited hundred run opening stand dented the Kiwi’s hopes. A well deserved victory was achieved in an emphatic manner.

Thank You

Faisal Caesar

Bangladesh v New Zealand - The Tigers must avoid complacency

The Tigers will start the third One-day international in a confident mood. They are one-up in the five-match series and the mood in the camp is upbeat. As rain washed away the second ODI so, if the Tigers win today then there will be no chances of losing the series.

But above all, the Tigers must utilize this advantage of leading-the-series at its maximum. Remember what happened in 2008? Despite having a 1-0 lead the Tigers lost the series 2-1. The boys were gripped by complacent attitude and this time around our boys must avoid complacency.

The Tigers must come all guns blazing. They must maintain the attacking instinct which won them the first ODI. Allowing complacency will only dent the hopes.

Thank You

Faisal Caesar

Zimbabwe cricket - Tough task ahead for Grant Flower

There are examples of cricketers retiring and then reverse their decision and makes a return to international cricket again. But very few have been able to make a positive impact on their respective teams.

Bobby Simpson of Australia returned to the international cricket to captain a Packer plagued Australian side against the West Indies in 1978. Everyone praised his courage but a series defeat wasn’t avoidable.

Very recently Mohamad Yousuf returned to international cricket from a retirement. His presence in the team gave solidity to the fragile Pakistani batting at the Oval Test in but with the progress of time he was just a shadow of his glorious past.  

Imran Khan also retired from international cricket in 1987, but again made a comeback in 1988 to compete a series against the mighty West Indies. Imran returned with a bang from 1988 to 1992, Pakistan cricket had reached the peak of excellence. Imran gifted Pakistan its finest moments by lifting the World Cup in MCG in 1992.

But not everyone can script glory like Imran Khan.

39-year old Grant Flower, the younger brother of Andy Flower, has made a shocking return to international cricket. He has been included in the Zimbabwe squad which will tour South Africa in October.

In the earlier part of this decade, Zimbabwe’s cricket fortunes took a serious setback when the country’s politicians intervened. It led to the retirement of many of the country’s stalwarts which includes names like Andy Flower, Grant Flower etc. Many had to leave the scene prematurely. Zimbabwe’s cricket deteriorated tremendously and in mid 2000s, Zimbabwe Cricket Board decided to take a break from Test cricket to build themselves and thus, at present Zimbabwe’s cricket is traveling through a tough time. Their past vim have sapped away and they are not a fighting unit anymore.

To bring back the hey days of Zimbabwe cricket and install stability; Grant Flower has taken a very courageous step. But how well he will cope with the modern day cricket remains a moot question. He was in touch with cricket as he had played six seasons of County Cricket with Essex, but international cricket is a different story altogether. More over, his age will be a big hurdle to cope with the modern day’s fast and furious cricket.

Again, there is that additional pressure of team’s batting coach job. It will be a very tough task for Grant Flower. Surely, there’s a tough job ahead for him.

Thank You

Faisal Caesar

India v Australia - V.V.S. Laxman, take a bow!

It’s not an easy task to bat with the tail-enders and steer a wrecked ship safely to shore. It requires enough strength of character and a calm mind. And of course, a calm mind is the most dangerous thing.

At 124-8, India were at bay against the rampant Australians while chasing a modest total of 216 in the fourth innings of the first Test at Mohali. India had VVS Laxman still at the crease who was suffering from a back spasm and thus needed a runner. Laxman’s partner was Ishant Sharma - a genuine novice with the bat.

Victory for India seemed to be impossible, but wait! The Very, Very Special Laxman was still around. For the tail-enders he ensures security and his calm mind despite being under enormous pressure allows him to travel through the troubled water smoothly.

At Mohali, the short-pitch balls which hustled most of the Indian batsmen seemed not to dent him. He pulled the short stuff with authority. His stokes were a treat to watch for the purists and his composure still kept the Indian dressing-room focused on the match.

And the Indian dressing-room went delirious when he ensured an astonishing win.

He simply pulled the match out of the fire with another solid knock to dent the Australians hope.

It was a knock to remember and I can certainly tell in the coming days that I have witnessed the master live, who did not bog down under pressure.

 V.V.S. Laxman, take a bow!

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Bangladesh v New Zealand - The touch of the master

Daniel Vettori said before the start of the series that Shakib Al Hasan will be the main threat for the Kiwis and after the first one-day international at Mirpur Vettori’s pre-match prognostications seems to have proved true. Even Shakib is one up in the battle for the best all-rounder with his fellow competitor Daniel Vettori.

Shakib with the bat was dashing while with the ball he was teasing and menacing. With the willow he unleashed a range of shots in the batting Powerplay to lift Bangladesh to a competitive position. He then tormented the visitors with the ball - scalping four crucial wickets including a double-strike in the 15th over to remove the dangerous Brendon McCullum and Grant Elliott. He then returned to bowl a brilliant penultimate over in the rain-curtailed run chase, giving away just three runs and claiming the wicket of Nathan McCullum to give his side a much needed 1-0 lead in the five-match ODI series.

Bangladesh’s hopes of defending a small total of 229 took a serious dent when they lost their strike bowler and captain Mashrafe Mortaza to a sprained ankle after just one over. Shakib then took over the captaincy and even as the captain he was astute in setting the field according to the bowling and shifting his bowlers according to the demand of the situation.  

Mirpur had seen the touch of the master. Shakib was at his sublime best. Shakib is looking in superb form. It is expected that he will continue this rich-vein of form in the upcoming matches.

Thank You

Faisal Caesar

Bangladesh cricket - Was that a very sensible act by the BCB?

Bangladesh is well known for its hospitality. But at times this hospitable nature is being exploited badly by the others. And Bangladesh tends to bow down. More often we reveal to our guests what we have in our armory and in thus lose the opportunity to take full advantage of our own assets. Hospitality then turns out to be an act of nonsense.

The ODI series between the Tigers and Kiwis will start off tomorrow at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur. The visitors didn’t have the chance to play any warm up matches at the BKSP due to poor weather conditions.

That prompted the New Zealand management to request the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) to let them have a full session in the center wicket of the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur, which they were allowed to do on Saturday.

It could well be the first time that a visiting cricket team has got the privilege of center-wicket practice. And it’s only possible in Bangladesh. But the BCB forgot the Tigers last tour to NZL earlier this year.

The Tigers’ practice matches too were hampered by bad weather but they weren’t given such privilege to practice on the centre-wicket, whereas the Kiwis have practiced 70 over at best on the center-wickets of Mirpur. No country gets this kind of a privilege in an away tour.

The BCB did the same thing when the English team were visiting Bangladesh earlier this year. Alastair Cook’s men were allowed to play a three-day match on the Test venue at Chittagong and that too on those tracks where the Test matches were played.

Was that a very sensible act by the BCB? Allowing a visiting team to adapt on a wicket where the main matches will be held can never be termed as something sensible. How spineless a Board can be! I wonder!

Thank You

Faisal Caesar