Match Thread: Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka, 1st Test, June 25th-29th 2007, Colombo

[mali007]

Mushfique was not included in the 1st test !!!!! Now who will anchor in the late order?
It will be hard to score 200. Selectors have given chance KM for outstanding keeping like ----- bye 4 , dropping legside sniks !!!!!

[rah]

Originally Posted by Rajowana
omg omg huh mushi isn't included in the final 11!!!!

im surprised he werent included. in the practice match he batted better than pilot.

[crikss]

so for how long its going to continue with Mushfiq...

[BangladeshFan]

indian selectors include dhoni, whose footwork was widely criticised as a keeper. He didnt do bad at all. Bd selectors, if they cant get out of their defensive shell, we wont go anywhere. It is hard to grasp these are the guys who chose tamim in the WC and we know the outcome. Fortune favors the brave.

[Duck]

Good Luck for BD!
Hope a good cricket from our tigers against the disciplined and professional lions!
Mushi is not included, Golla seems wont make it through due to illness.............unfortunate...so, in BD batting line-up, both the Top and Bottom are exposed !

[cricket_pagol]

Mushy batting would have been crucial to securing a draw or pushing the test to the fifth day. Now we have to watch pilot in ultra defensive mode, trying to score as many dot balls as possible... in the process getting out cheaply. In my opinion, considering keeping only, the difference between pilot and mushy is not that big. Mushy has done a decent job in the one dayers so far... He has missed few catches, but he has taken some remarkable catches to make up for it. In the world cup he only had one bad game.

I thought mushfiq deserved a chance as a batsmen... his batting is much solid than some of our batsmen. In particular, since JO has fever, mushy was the ideal replacement. I guess the selector did not want to disturb the combination. I feel really bad for mushy, what does the kid have to do to get into the team?

Can't expect to too much better from management.

[rafiq]

guys don't get emotional about mushfiq. he is on the squad, and his inclusion on the tour means selectors are serious about continuing to groom him. One day and test cricket is different and maybe they feel mushfiq needs more experience before he can keep at the Test level. Pilot's batting is in a rut no doubt but as a keeper in Test cricket he is not finished.

[Kabir]

Originally Posted by Imtiazk
Clearly, their confidence in his ability, at the moment, leaves something to be desired.

They see Mushfiq day in and day out far closely than me. I suppose they notice things which I sitting in my living room can not see except in match days.

Good observation. I've tried mentioning this to a few people who always bash a few players, but they are not ready to understand this. The reality is, we know only what's shown on the screen, but not those millions of things that are taken care of behind the screens. We only get the taste of final product, like Coke. Not the ingredients that they leave out coz they are potentially harmful.

[shujan]

Mushfique has been left out for Khaled Masud. What is going on here??

[selina]

Originally Posted by cricket_pagol
Now we have to watch pilot in ultra defensive mode, trying to score as many dot balls as possible... in the process getting out cheaply.

It's so sad. Some of our batsmen get out cheaply, trying to play dangerous shots. And yet some of our batsmen also get out cheaply, trying to play dot balls.

Anyways, I'm dissapointed that mushi didn't get into the final 11. If not as a keeper, he should be in as a batsmen. I think his temperament and technique is suited for tests.

Best of luck to Ash and co.

[Murad]

Final 12:

Shahriar Nafees Ahmed, Javed Omer, Rajin Saleh, Habibul Bashar, Mohammad Ashraful (Captain), Shakib Al Hasan, Khaled Mashud (Wicketkeeper), Mohammed Rafique, Mashrafe Bin Mortaza (Vice-Captain), Abdur Razzak, Shahadat Hossain Rajib.

12th man – Mehrab Hossain (Jr.)

We are going with 6 batsmen 4 bowlers... 1 wicket keepar.... i wish our wicket keepar can bat a bit in this test...

[Anher]

Good Luck Bangladesh!

[syzygy]

Originally Posted by Imtiazk
Mushfiq not playing shows that the [ tour ] selectors are not voting for him for the wicket-keepers position. Clearly, their confidence in his ability, at the moment, leaves something to be desired.

They see Mushfiq day in and day out far closely than me. I suppose they notice things which I sitting in my living room can not see except in match days.

This raises the obvious question: if Mushfiq cannot come in purely as a batsman [ there are many, including me, who will support his inclusion as a batsman ], then either he has to rapidly improve as a keeper and keep out any other potential successor to Mashud or he does not play in tests at all. However, given the attitude we show in batting in tests, it is difficult to contemplate that.

I hope his keeping improves especially to spinners. However, if the selectors believe that Mashud is still the best keeper, then they would be correct in selecting him. After all, the best keeper must be selected in tests. In the pyjama game other considerations may come in.

gr8 observation..yes thay should include mushfiq just as a pure batsman just as indian selectors have been including both dhoni and karthick in test matches.but it seems bd selectors do not have enough faith on mushfiq either as a pure batsman or a wicket keeper batsman.probably the little chap needs to go and practice his wicket keeping skills and improve to a point where he can regain the faith of the selectors.thats what matters not what we say in this forum as they are ones who see him day in and day out!

[Rifat_02]

Good luck Tigers.
I hope there is no rain tomorrow and we can see a full days play.

[Mohiul]

Tigers v Lions. Let us hope that Tigers fight like real tigers not like calves or cats

[damalChele]

I hope our tigers play sensible cricket and put up a good fight. Thats all I really want to see. Anything else is bonus. Good luck boys!

[Murad]

Originally Posted by syzygy
gr8 observation..yes thay should include mushfiq just as a pure batsman just as indian selectors have been including both dhoni and karthick in test matches.but it seems bd selectors do not have enough faith on mushfiq either as a pure batsman or a wicket keeper batsman.probably the little chap needs to go and practice his wicket keeping skills and improve to a point where he can regain the faith of the selectors.thats what matters not what we say in this forum as they are ones who see him day in and day out!

brother, who can he replace as batsman?? He could replace Bashar only but its not possible at the moment.. He can't replace Sakib, hes an allrounder... i dont see a place for him as a specialist batsmen than a keepar.. India did it as they selected him as a batsman only.

[One World]

May be it is good in both ways, as KM's performance degrades selectors will be left with no other choice. All we need is a Wall, like Inzi for Pak, Dravid for India and Shivnarine for WI. So who do you think is our wall?

[syzygy]

Originally Posted by muradnyc
brother, who can he replace as batsman?? He could replace Bashar only but its not possible at the moment.. He can't replace Sakib, hes an allrounder... i dont see a place for him as a specialist batsmen than a keepar.. India did it as they selected him as a batsman only.

well they should have kept out-of-form s. nafees out of the side and taken mushfiq just as a pure batsman. rajin and golla could have done the opening then. ind is doing the exact same thing by giving out-of-form sehwag the much needed break.

[Rumz_01]

Originally Posted by Rajowana
omg omg huh mushi isn't included in the final 11!!!!

InshAllah..!
Cumon Tigerz..We Can Still Win..
Even if Mushi isnt there ...we are here with all the support u need!!!
n as Tamim sed
"It is important to play ur natural game"
so go out there n do jus that!!!!

[sadi]

Well I am not too disappointed to see KM in the final eleven for the first test. I am sure he has to perform well or we will see Mushfiq in the second or third test. It is very natural to give your first wicketkeeper a chance before you bring in a young talented keeper like Mushfiq. Also, it is very hard for the selectors to take Mushfiq purely as a batsman as he can only replace Shahriar Nafees and then he or Rajin has to open. Noone of them opened in a longer version of the game before and it is not a good time for makeshift opener. So, I wouldn't complain too much about the team selection and enjoy the game.

[Aritro]

It does not surprise me that Pilot has been favoured for this match.

Something tells me that his performance in it will not deviate from the trajectory his most recent outings have taken.

Mushfiq will get his chance before the end of this series.

[Sovik]

don't really care about golla but mushi's exclusion doesn't give me much to cheer for. but since pilot is in the squad he should take this opportunity and score some runs

[Protic]

Pilot scoring runs..wow... I'll be surprised.

[Miraz]

My perception about Sri Lankan fans are changing dramatically. They are equally arrogant compared to any other sub continent neighbors.

Here are few comments from Sri Lankan cricket forum..

whts to discuss. we've won before a balls being bowled . well done sl !!

Originally Posted by From a moderator
Lasith only needs 4 balls to finish off the Bangla top order. The rest of them are tailenders lol

Originally Posted by quoting the above post
thts if he bowles the first over man..he might have to clean up the last 4 in the second over..

I just hope our players show some guts this time.