By Tim Wigmore
A number of months in the past, Shakib Al Hasan, the best cricketer in Bangladesh’s historical past, declared: “We’re very a lot unbeatable at dwelling,” earlier than the go to of Australia.
Shakib was unsuitable. After besting Australia within the first Check, Bangladesh floundered within the second; the sequence was drawn 1-1.
And but his broader level stays appropriate: in the suitable situations Bangladesh are actually a formidable worldwide cricket aspect. For the reason that 2015 World Cup, they’ve been on a run of six straight ODI sequence victories at dwelling; overwhelmed England in a Check (whereas shedding narrowly within the different); shared a Check sequence 1-1 away to Sri Lanka; after which overwhelmed Australia at dwelling.
They had been additionally very aggressive throughout a solitary Check in India in February and authored a spectacular victory in opposition to New Zealand in Cardiff to, considerably fortuitously, attain the Champions Trophy semi-finals.
When the phrases “tour to Bangladesh” are uttered, they’re now not synonymous with ‘simple tour’. Certainly, in dwelling situations, Bangladesh would rightly take into account themselves at the very least equal favourites in opposition to all opponents bar India. Bangladesh’s rise has been one of many nice tales in worldwide cricket over the previous two years.
The difficulty is, this rise is just half-complete. Bangladesh have moved from being makeweights in worldwide cricket to a Jekyll and Hyde workforce, formidable at dwelling and but meek away from Sub-continental situations. For all their strides in appropriate situations, Bangladesh proceed to be uncovered on wickets that seam, bounce and don’t help spin bowling.
How that has been evident in the course of the tour to South Africa, a return to Bangladesh’s dangerous outdated days. Take into account their outcomes.
Within the two Check matches, Bangladesh misplaced by 333 runs after which an innings and 254 runs. They took solely 13 South African wickets within the sequence and, after scoring 320 of their first innings, their batting subsided thereafter, scoring 90, 147 and 172.
Nor had been the ODIs any higher. South Africa gained by 10 wickets within the opening recreation, when Bangladesh had been defending 278 but couldn’t muster a single wicket. They then misplaced by 104 and 100 runs within the closing two video games. Bangladesh eviscerated.
Their final sequence in unfamiliar climes resulted in the identical outcome: a whitewash in each the Exams and ODIs. Bangladesh’s batting was much better in these Exams in New Zealand, but the purpose stays: Bangladesh away from dwelling are a pitiful imitation of the heavyweight workforce at dwelling.
What could be executed? The contrasting outcomes displays how Bangladesh are much better at enjoying in opposition to, and bowling, spin, than they’re enjoying in opposition to, and bowling, tempo. Take into account Rubel Hossain’s report over 25 – 25! – Check matches: 33 wickets at 79.00 apiece, stats unworthy of an occasional bowler.
To treatment their weaknesses, Bangladesh have to prioritise tempo bowling. That ought to begin with the pitches at dwelling. Bangladesh are proper to give attention to their strengths when opponents tour, and produce wickets that flip prodigiously, however they want some wickets at dwelling to supply tempo and bounce in home cricket, aiding the event of quicks and, simply as importantly, giving their batsmen extra expertise enjoying quick bowling.
Bangladesh additionally want a renewed give attention to their A-team. Yearly, at the very least one A-tour ought to go to Australia, England, South Africa or New Zealand, enjoying robust cricket on matches through which spin bowling is peripheral. Sure, many defeats may ensue, however the objective of A-team cricket is as preparation for the total nationwide workforce, not as an finish in itself.
The Bangladesh board should even be artistic in supporting its greatest gamers to enhance exterior of Asian situations. The very best gamers must be assisted to find counties – as Shakib has executed to nice impact – to speed up their improvement. These effervescent underneath might be despatched to membership groups in England (whose summer season coincides with the Bangladeshi low season) to be uncovered to enjoying in seam-friendly situations.
Then, journeys to nations like South Africa may show much less dispiriting.
Bangladesh also needs to use the chance supplied by Eire‘s elevation to Check cricket. In Irish situations, Bangladesh would nonetheless rightly count on to win a Check sequence, however the expertise of going through Eire’s seamers, and of enjoying matches that are decided by tempo, not spin, ought to finally make Bangladesh extra aggressive once they tour Australia, England, New Zealand and South Africa.
So there’s a lot that Bangladesh can do to change into extra aggressive in unfamiliar climes away from the Sub-continent. Bangladesh’s hovering performances at dwelling have enriched the worldwide recreation, which badly wants all of the aggressive groups that it might probably get. But, for now, the transformation of Bangladesh cricket stays an incomplete revolution.
