After failing to handle the pressure in the
final of Tri-series, Bangladesh surrendered meekly at Mirpur and lost the Test
series. The Bangladesh team are fragile temperamentally at present.
When the Tigers used
to fight
In the second Test at Colombo last year, the Sri Lankan tail
wagged and posted a competitive total in first innings. Bangladesh were in a
state of bother in reply. At 198 for 5, Bangladesh fans were thinking of how to
get somewhere near Sri Lanka’s first innings total rather than taking a lead.
But it was a different Bangladesh unit. Since Chandika Hathurusingha had been
appointed as the head coach of Tigers, they developed the habit of fighting
adversity – a character which was much needed for this talented unit.
Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim, and a young Mosaddek
Hossain decided to fight back. Shakib notched up a Test ton while Mushfiq nd
Mosaddek scored important half-centuries and helped Bangladesh to take a lead
of 129 runs. In the post-lunch session of fourth day, Mustafizur Rahman’s
late-swing and Shakib’s left-arm orthodox spin jolted Sri Lankan batting lineup
and Bangladesh were needed to score 191 runs on Day 5.
Traditionally, Bangladesh are not very good chasers in
fourth innings and against an inform Rangana Herath, the possibilities looked
thin. But Chandika’s men would not bog down without a fight. From a shaky 22
for 2, Bangladesh clawed back into the match and registered their first win on
Lankan soil in a Test match. The Tigers drew the series 1-1.
Rewind to 2016. At Dhaka, in the second Test, the English
openers, Alastair Cook and Ben Duckett, scripted a tremendous counterattack on
a turning track while chasing 273 in fourth innings. With two days still left
to play, the total seemed to be a cakewalk for England who batted deep. But
just after the tea break, Bangladesh changed its colour in a dramatic fashion.
England lost ten wickets for 64 runs. Mehidy Hasan Miraz and
Shakib created a havoc in English batting lineup. England surrendered meekly and
Bangladesh showed the world how well they have developed temperamentally as a
team.
Their roar was not only limited to 50-over formats but in
test cricket, their roar could be heard from many parts of the world.
The Tigers don’t
fight but surrender meekly at present
Chandika transformed Bangladesh into a bunch of fighters. But
pathetic politics let him resign from the job. Sri Lanka appointed him as the
coach to turn things around for them. While Bangladesh decided to face
Chandika’s Sri Lanka's team without a coach. The Tigers looked terrific at the
start of Tri-series but as the tournament progressed, Chadika’s Sri Lanka
gained the momentum and in the final, they outclassed the hosts in all three
departments to lift the trophy.
A final is all about handling the pressure. Chandika’s Sri
Lanka handled the pressure better than Bangladesh. The Tigers were poor
temperamentally.
Bangladesh’s poor temperament was evident throughout the
Test series. In the all-important second Test, Bangladesh’s lack of temperament
led them to digest a disgraceful defeat. In the first innings, they lost five
wickets for three runs while in the second, they lost five wickets for 23 runs
which were neither due to track nor some outstanding bowling by Sri Lankans.
The Mirpur track was a typical turning track where one needs
to spend time at the wicket more and shun exhibiting attacking strokes. Roshen
Silva showed how to bat on this wicket. He hardly attempted any attacking
strokes but always played with a straight bat and maneuvered the strike
consistently.
Yes, chasing 339 runs on a turning track would be tough, but
with two and half days remaining, one cannot write Bangladesh off who had shown
the stomach to fight against teams like South Africa, England and Australia not
so long ago.
Moreover, just before the start of play of third day,
Bangladesh’s veteran spinner Abdur Razzak said, “Chasing 300 is a difficult
task, but it's not impossible. It's very possible. To me, the wicket looks more
settled. I don't think it's that difficult to bat like the first innings”.
But to the astonishment of everyone, the Bangladesh batting
lineup collapsed without showing any intention to fight. Tamim Iqbal, Mushfiqur
Rahim, Mominul Haque, Mahmudullah, and co were tamed not by some unplayable
deliveries but lack of application and over-attacking instincts.
The wicket was not behaving wickedly but it was the batsmen
of Bangladesh team who batted wickedly and in a bizarre fashion.
This Bangladesh team doesn’t play like a team. They don’t
wish to fight like the past.
As soon as Chandika left, it seems, Bangladesh are losing
their way.
Bangladesh need to
fix their fragile temperament
In any sports or in any profession, a winning mentality
plays a very vital role in achieving success. You win half the battle if you
think you will win. But if you are afraid of losing or take things for granted,
you are sure to suffer.
Either Bangladesh are playing with a defensive mindset or
taking things for granted. The sheer professionalism and winning-mentality,
which was evident last year is hugely absent at present. They are playing
school kids and not men. And such a pathetic transformation in such a quick
time is alarming for Bangladesh cricket.
The think tank of Bangladesh cricket needs to do a lot of
hard work to fix the fragile temperament of Tigers.
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