Pick your playing XI for the first Test

[Miraz]

Now we know JO, Tushar, Mehrab and Nazmul have been sent home that makes the selection of playing XI a bit easier.

Let's see the members' choice for the first Test which starts on 4 January at Dunedin.

Please keep in mind that Dunedin pitch is a graveyard for batsman.


My Test XI

Shahriar Nafees
Tamim Iqbal
Mohammad Ashraful
Habibul Bashar
Aftab Ahmed
Farhad Reza
Mushfiqur Rahim
Mashrafe Mortaza
Shahadat Hossain
Enamul Haque Jnr
Sajidul Islam

6 batsman, 3 genuine pace bowler, one pace bowling all-rounder and one spinner

[Miraz]

We have a number of threads on 1st Test player selection.

I will request the moderators to merge them keeping the poll open.

[Spitfire_x86]

Tamim
Zunaed
Ashraful
SN
Bashar
Aftab
Mushfiq
Farhad
Mashrafee
Shahadat
Enamul

Both of Tamim and Zunaed have been playing since the first practice match with varying success, and ahve adjusted to the conditions. SN can play in the middle order at #4, he is a better option than Rajin.

[Miraz]

Originally Posted by Spitfire_x86
Tamim
Zunaed
Ashraful
SN
Bashar
Aftab
Mushfiq
Farhad
Mashrafee
Shahadat
Enamul

Good team but with only 2 genuine pacers on Dunedin wicket? I feel we need a genuine 3rd seamer.

[Spitfire_x86]

We need a batting heavy line-up. Wishing for a good performance from Farhad is all we can do.

[Miraz]

Farhad should be miles ahead of Rajin and Shakib if we keep the condition in mind.

[Spitfire_x86]

I'm more concerned about his performance as 3rd seamer actually. His runs at #8 will be a bonus, and I think he can't do worse than Sakib or Rajin (in NZ condition) with bat.

[Beamer]

I agree with Spitty and even the batting positions, only Bashar coming at no.3. Heck, lets give one more try to the old man and his money earning position at no.3 .I was going to play SN in the middle order. Only think that I am not in agreement 100% is the inclusion of Farhad. Its a toss up between him and Sajid for me. You need to go to a test match, in NZ, with at least three seamers. That he is a lefty, is even a better proposition.

1 Tamim 2 Zunaid (I still think he has great qualities. He looks technically solvent and also a good 'leaver' of the ball. I won't need to hoick over the infield in tests ) 3 Bashar 4 Ash 5 SN 6 Aftab 7 Mushy ( just pray that he doesn't drop crucial catches ) 8 Mash 9 Rajib 10 Sajid 11 Enam.

Thats three debutants ! But, the best possible at the moment..

[Miraz]

Originally Posted by Spitfire_x86
I'm more concerned about his performance as 3rd seamer actually. His runs at #8 will be a bonus, and I think he can't do worse than Sakib or Rajin (in NZ condition) with bat.

I am not ready to consider him as the 3rd seamer, he is my 4th seamer.

[Navarene]

My pick:

Tamim
Shahriar Nafis
Bashar
Ashraful
Rajin
Aftab
Mushfiq
Razzaq
Mashrafee
Shahadat
Sajedul

I picked Razzaq over Enamul Jr as I consider Razzaq to be a genuine wicket taker on any given condition ahead of Enamul. Enamul performed badly even on a flat spin friendly wicket in the last home series againt India, where as Razzaq seems to be more compitable in NZ condition.

No need to pick Farhad as we will have a "solid" batting lineup with Rajin's inclusion and three frontline seamers.

[Miraz]

Here's the NZ squad. No Jeetan Patel for the first Test, he will join the squad for the 2nd Test.

Mathew Bell returns after 6 years, Styris, Ross (cheat) Taylor and Jamie How get the axe.
Dunedin will be a seamer's paradise.

New Zealand squad
Matthew Bell, Craig Cumming, Mathew Sinclair, Stephen Fleming, Peter Fulton, Brendon McCullum (wk), Daniel Vettori, Chris Martin, Michael Mason, Kyle Mills, Iain O'Brien, Jacob Oram.

[Beamer]

Miraz

ki bepar? no confidence in Bashar at no.3? I will send him right in the fire at no.3, his bread and butter spot.

[Miraz]

Originally Posted by Beamer
Miraz

ki bepar? no confidence in Bashar at no.3? I will send him right in the fire at no.3, his bread and butter spot.

It's Siddon's decision to send Ashraful at number 3, not mine

I will still send Bashar at number 3 and Ash at 4.

[BD Tigers]

Originally Posted by Miraz
My Test XI

Shahriar Nafees
Tamim Iqbal
Mohammad Ashraful
Habibul Bashar
Aftab Ahmed
Farhad Reza
Mushfiqur Rahim
Mashrafe Mortaza
Shahadat Hossain
Enamul Haque Jnr
Sajidul Islam

6 batsman, 3 genuine pace bowler, one pace bowling all-rounder and one spinner

I took the same team as yours except I took Rajin than Aftab. We shud definitely go 3 genuine pacers and 1 spinner.

on another note, we might try Rajin as WK and get another batsman. Mushi has totally lost it in batting. Selectors made a HUGE blunder not picking Pilot.

[Beamer]

Miraz

Siddons said Bashar at no.3 for tests yesterday..

[Murad]

Miraz bhai, your team is just perfect. I would select the same.

[Miraz]

Originally Posted by Beamer
Miraz

Siddons said Bashar at no.3 for tests yesterday..

If that's true, I stand corrected and will send Bashar at 3.

[BD-Shardul]

My team

Shahriar Nafees Ahmed
Tamim Iqbal
Rajin Saleh
Habibul Bashar
Mohammad Ashraful
Aftab Ahmed
Mushfiqur Rahim
Mashrafe Mortaza
Shahadat Hossain
Sajidul Islam
Enamul Haq Junior

Bowling: Ash, Mash, Shahadat, Sajidul, Hq. Jr

[Omio]

My Test XI -

Junayeed
Tamim Iqbal
Habibul Bashar
Mohammad Ashraful
S Nafees
Aftab Ahmed
Mushfiqur Rahim
Mashrafe Mortaza
Shahadat Hossain
Enamul Haque Jnr
Sajidul Islam

[Moshin]

My Test XI:
Opening: Shahriar Nafees and Tamim Iqbal, Middle-order: Habibul Bashar, Rajin Saleh, Mohammed Ashraful (C), Saqibul Hassan, Mushfiqur Rahim (WK), Bowlers: Mashrafe Mortaza (ALL), Sajidul Islam, Abdur Razzak and Enamul Haque jnr

[Rifat]

Mortaza out of my team!!! i have given up my hopes for him , he seriously needs to go back to boot camp.

My controvertial team:

Tamim
Junaed
Rajin
Ash
Aftab
Rahim
Farhad Reza
Sajid
Razzak
Enamul Jr.
Shahadat


i want an in-form Bangladeshi team. Junaed? i included him over Nafees only because he should be used to New Zealand conditions by now. if he doesn't do anything productive this tour... i am blaming selection for not including Javed Omar!!!

Shakib should join Mortaza in the boot camp or go home and back to college(University of Khulna), he has been out of form as well. aside from the 20/20 match!

i think it is a moronic move to include Bashar in my team since he is pulled out of nowhere and is asked to perform a close to impossible task...SADNESS!!!


RASEL...YOU ARE GREATLY MISSED


i doubt we will do anything productive on tests...

[Sovik]

Junaed Siddique
Sahriar Nafees
Rajin Saleh
Mohammad Ashraful
Aftab Ahmed
Sakib al Hasan
Mushfiq Rahim
Mashrafee Mortaza
Shahadat Hossain
Enamul Haque jr
Sajidul Islam

[zainab]

Sakib and Mortaza should not be in the team. they have not performed well at all.
My openers are Nafees and Tamim who seem a bit more comfortable than Junaid at the moment Sakib and Mash as all rounders have failed, they should be given a rest at the moment.
Bashar and Rajin should be given a chance. Aftab has gotten used to the conditions, maybe, he probably will surprise us and go back to his 2005 form.

[Mahir]

Originally Posted by Spitfire_x86
Tamim
Zunaed
Ashraful
SN
Bashar
Aftab
Mushfiq
Farhad
Mashrafee
Shahadat
Enamul

This would've been my choice too, if the inclusion of a 3rd seamer (who fits the bill better than Farhad) wasnt necessary. I dont think Farhad Reza's bowling has the capability to be effective over an entire Test match. Sajidul gets my call, knowing that it would be the case of yet another premature debut.

Second point - yes, Junaed and Tamim has had a good feel of the NZ condition and they havent done anything criminal as far as opening is concerned. But I'd let Junaed learn and develop more before getting in on a Test match. We can definitely play Rajin in the middle order (or Sakib, if he's to be persisted with, disregarding his ODI series performance). SN should come at #4 once we have a dependable situation in the opening (i.e. Tamim and Junaed)

[Navarene]

Would any cricket pundit in this forum please enlighten me on how Enamul Jr is a better contender ahead of Razzaq in Test cricket?

At least I wont buy the "Enamul is ideal for longer version of cricket and razzaq is not" excuse, since Razzaq can also bowl long spells in domestic matches.