Cautious Optimism and Sudden Light at the End of the Tunnel?

[Sohel]

Hit the nail on the head there Asaad. The age factor is massive especially in light of our cricketing realities. Cricket infrastructure, education and politics. If anything, we ought to be more flexible.

Ash is not the only one with that pitiful average and that fact alone speaks volumes. That also explains how some of us have developed a fondness for bits and pieces to downright shitty players because they sometimes perform better and more consistently than player with more natural ability, in terms of both skill and character.

Bits and pieces players can work hard and get better. We've seen that in Rasel, Rokib, Riyad, Naeem, Forhad and Mehrab. Shitty players like Shezan, Sanwar, Tushar, Rajin, Nazim and countless others have basic technical issues like sighting the ball, footwork, and strokeplay or lack there of to contend with. They tend to get worse.

The sad thing is when talented guys like Bidyut, Opi, to a certain extent Rokon, Nafis Iqbal, Ash, Alok, Abir, Mushy and Aftab don't do any better. But given proper time and effective, holistic coaching with strong motivational elements and our traditional values, they're likely to do better once they earn the opportunity they deserve.

early to mid 20 something guys with similar 20 something averages from an prepared nation goaded into test cricket won't do well to begin with. But add shitty infrastructure and management to that and you have exactly what we have now.

Talking about batting here, primarily. Bowling wise we're OK. Shitty bowlers don't last nearly as long to haunt us ...

[Sohel]

Originally Posted by Gowza
pilot is retired though isn't he? do you consider any of shahin, dhiman, pavel and mithun much better keeping-wise than mushy or just slightly better? because if BD has a keeper who is much better with the gloves than mushy then without doubt they should be in the test team, and then mushy can be a specialist bat.

Pilot still rules.

Shanin and Dhiman are much better. Pavel and Mithun have more range.

Mushy gets in as a specialist bat very easily in my book. That may even improve his batting ...

[Imteaz]

Hope Bangladesh will win. The sudden problem from WICB & WI players has done at least one thing that increased pressure to Bangladesh. If the main team would play the target was just to prove ourselves as Test Team. But now the target is straight win. Even a lower margin win will be controversial because according to WI greats this is the 3rd standard team of WI.

If Bangladesh even wins on a good margin than also our performance is questionable when the comment from commentator is "Same old story from Bangladesh" (Bangladesh is 79/3 on the 1st session of 2nd day). So, cannot be Optimistic about this Series.

[MohammedC]

I can't see no light.

[Sohel]

A Shocka dimmed the light and we blew out whatever was left of it.

[tonoy]

Sohel, you out of all people should know by now that there is no such thing as "sudden light". I mean the term "sudden" is a powerful word and should not be used lightly.

[Sohel]

Originally Posted by tonoy
Sohel, you out of all people should know by now that there is no such thing as "sudden light". I mean the term "sudden" is a powerful word and should not be used lightly.

True.

Nosotros SUCKamos mucho, vato!

[al Furqaan]

well thank god there's always a second innings...

it certainly seems as though complacency got the better of us...

[RazabQ]

The light at the end of the tunnel was just that of an on-rushing train ...

[Equinox]

Do people have prematuratis in this forum? A celebration thread even before the tournament has begun and now a thread after only one hour of play.

Originally Posted by Sohel NR
Bits and pieces players can work hard and get better. We've seen that in Rasel, Rokib, Riyad, Naeem, Forhad and Mehrab.

You missed the biggest success story: Shakib Al Hasan.

[Equinox]

Originally Posted by Sohel NR
Just keeping-wise:

1. Pilot
2. Shahin
3. Dhiman
4. Pavel/Mithun
5. Mushy.

Pavel and Mithun's height give them extra range, other than that, they're similar. Mushy's keeping has been unacceptable for this level, especially for a team that doesn't get too many breaks, for a while now. He seems to be getting worse behind the stumps.

Cuteness and loudness wise, GoBoy is still number one.

But Mithun isn't very tall. I saw him in Wormsley in the practice match against Scotland. He is just about taller than Mushfiq. How do you rate Johirul Islam? Going by stats he is the best batsman-keeper in the country. And from his CricInfo picture he looks like a big guy too. Is his keeping faulty?

[Beamer]

Sohel

For Z, no.3 is not a new position in tests. They have been playing him there for a while now, to which I say, is a futile decision. You want the most important position in the line-up to be filled by someone who can 'try' it out and correct his shortcomings? I think that is a ridiculous idea. Temperament is important there ( as it is with every position ), but you must have a player there who is one of your technically most solvent, who can counter attack, has a much better range, equally capable on both front and back foot etc. If you ask me to name three of our potential no.3's, Z will not even feature in the top five. I would rather have first : Aftab, second : Ash, third : SN ( if we really like the three opener theory ). I like Imrul way better than Z, and it looks like he has the other opener slot for himself.

Like your optimism though. Can't fault you on that.

[Sohel]

Originally Posted by Equinox
Do people have prematuratis in this forum? A celebration thread even before the tournament has begun and now a thread after only one hour of play.

You missed the biggest success story: Shakib Al Hasan.

Hardly a celebration thread bro. Do read carefully. But then again what the F do we know? We shudder before your supremacy and sheer awesomeness! We exist only to be belittled by you just so that YOU can feel better about yourself in the process. I hope you're ready to rule the world soon. Humanity awaits more eagerly than you can imagine.

Shakib is not a bits and pieces player IMHO. His hand-eye coordination is a natural ability he can apply to cricket. That in my book is pure talent. That often makes up for his baffling technique from time to time. His balance when hooking and pulling is also something hard to teach.

[Sohel]

Originally Posted by Equinox
But Mithun isn't very tall. I saw him in Wormsley in the practice match against Scotland. He is just about taller than Mushfiq. How do you rate Johirul Islam? Going by stats he is the best batsman-keeper in the country. And from his CricInfo picture he looks like a big guy too. Is his keeping faulty?

The height was in comparison to Mushy to talk about greater range. I have also seen them standing next to each other. He is a lot taller than Mushy.

Jahirul bats well but doesn't keep much in the NCL anymore. Needs to have better seasons and string together more solid performances before doing the same with the Academy and A sides, etc. Same goes for Nazmus Sadat ...

[Sohel]

Originally Posted by Beamer
Sohel

For Z, no.3 is not a new position in tests. They have been playing him there for a while now, to which I say, is a futile decision. You want the most important position in the line-up to be filled by someone who can 'try' it out and correct his shortcomings? I think that is a ridiculous idea. Temperament is important there ( as it is with every position ), but you must have a player there who is one of your technically most solvent, who can counter attack, has a much better range, equally capable on both front and back foot etc. If you ask me to name three of our potential no.3's, Z will not even feature in the top five. I would rather have first : Aftab, second : Ash, third : SN ( if we really like the three opener theory ). I like Imrul way better than Z, and it looks like he has the other opener slot for himself.

Like your optimism though. Can't fault you on that.

I'm getting really frustrated with Z's issues, having been a witness to them for about 3 years now. He uses too much bottom hand, takes his eye off skidding deliveries, and commits his front foot way too early, often finding himself in no man's land with a wide array of dire consequences to follow. If he can manage to restrain himself from doing that, he's not a bad back foot player.

Just horrible technique nowadays. Time to bench his @$$ is near. Sadly, I don't think his alternatives will do much better. Ash thinks he'll be in the runs at number 5. Clearly doesn't like the idea of playing at 3 ...

[Tokai]

We need to "X" the "Z". He "S" really bad.

The only problem is, we do not have any "A" type batsman at all.

[Anher]

sudden light???
in case of Bangladesh its always "lightening", just after that comes "thunder" and they run to "Paradise".

[Equinox]

Originally Posted by Sohel NR
Hardly a celebration thread bro. Do read carefully. But then again what the F do we know? We shudder before your supremacy and sheer awesomeness! We exist only to be belittled by you just so that YOU can feel better about yourself in the process. I hope you're ready to rule the world soon. Humanity awaits more eagerly than you can imagine.

Shakib is not a bits and pieces player IMHO. His hand-eye coordination is a natural ability he can apply to cricket. That in my book is pure talent. That often makes up for his baffling technique from time to time. His balance when hooking and pulling is also something hard to teach.

Unneeded sarcasm. By celebration thread I was reffering to the thread opened to celebrate our preassumed victory against India in the T20 WC. I am not the type of person who goes around looking for fights over the Internet. The first part of my post was written in a joking tone. But giving the post a second read I can understand how it can offend you. I don't blame you at all we are in such a stage that without the use of "LOL"s and smileys one can not distinguish between who is serious and who is not.

Now on Shakib. Everyone who plays International cricket has their strengths just like Shakib is advantaged in the attributes that you listed. However to the naked eye Shakib does not look as talented as say Ashraful or Tamim. And like the players you mentioned Shakib has continued to improve throughout his career which is why I placed him in that category.

Looking at the scorecards I can see that Johirul has been used as an opener while Pilot has been Rajshahi's first choice keeper in the 4 day matches. But now with Pilot retired Johir will get the opportunity to keep more frequently and we can understand which standard he belongs too. Our stock of keepers seems to be quite rich though

[AsifTheManRahman]

এত বছর হয়ে গেল, অথচ আপনারা এখনো এত সহজেই আলো বাতাস দেখে ফেলেন?

[MohammedC]

Shohel Bhai did you really see Sudden light? are you it was not sudden death. just checking

[Sohel]

Total Runs: 238

Contribution from 4 Top Batters: 113 runs

Imrul 33- Failed to go on because of YET ANOTHER classic decision from A Shocka, looked better than everyone else.

Z 27- Failed to go on because of the bad technique we know so well, because we've see it so often. A couple of nice shots, especially the ones glanced and lifted off the legside and then BOOM & DOOM!

Mushy 36- Run out by the new skipper. Hung in there before that and scored some valuable runs, looking set to scratch out a test 50 somehow.

Shakib 17- Looked good and comfortable before being caught behind by T Hill, the other umpire. Played a beautiful pull shot Z can learn a lot from.

Contribution from 2 Top Non Batters: 72 runs.

Mash 39- Courageous Captain's knock marred by running Mushy out. Rose to the occasion and gave himself a total, however humble and ultimately useless it may be, to defend. Top scorer. Succumbed to a decent delivery and a great catch. We were all rooting for him to get another test 50 under tough circumstances.

Maria 33- More than anyone expected and asked for. Valuable runs for him to defend with the ball. Was in a more belligerent mood than he usually is with the bat, and succumbed to an attempted slog sweep.

CRICINFO SUMMERY OF HOW WE GOT OUT.

Biggest failures, not that I'm calling the relatively successful batter a "success": Tamim, Da Rock (NOT 3 times lucky), and of course, the talismanic former skipper Mohammad Ashraful Matin, PhD. Alok Kapali, now chilling with Dhiman and Abir, is always there for good measure ...

Riyad, also out of sorts like his buddy Da Rock, at least doesn't have a suggestive nick to defend.*

*

63.1 Roach to Mahmudullah, OUT, this was only a matter of time! Full and wide, goes after it, tries to drive it through the covers, gets a thick edge straight to Phillips at gully, Roach is rewarded for his persistence.

Mahmudullah c Phillips b Roach 9 (28b 2x4 0x6) SR: 32.14

36.2 Bernard to Raqibul Hasan, OUT, lady luck finally stops smiling on Raqibul as he fails to keep the drive down. Sammy at gully bends low to his right and takes the catch. Sammy and Roach are overjoyed to see the back of Raqibul.

Raqibul Hasan c Sammy b Bernard 14 (38b 2x4 0x6) SR: 36.84

[ammark]

Why is Riyad in the team again? I cant yet see why he's so persisted with in our games.

[Zeeshan]

I will say man of the match so far from our side has been Sharapova so far..

[One World]

"so far" down the order makes win farther so far.

[Zeeshan]

*furiously starts doing search on you to dig up a fail post on you*