Telegraph UK: Playing Bangladesh is a batsmans's dream

[MarvinDaMartian]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/cri...-decision.html

Bangladesh's embarrassing lack of improvement since getting Test status pours shame on ICC's rushed decision

Twelve years ago next month Bangladesh played their first ever Test match, against India in Dhaka, and there is distressingly little evidence to suggest that they have improved.

In the runs: Ian Bell flicks the ball for four off some very average Bangladesh bowling Photo: REUTERS


By Scyld Berry

2:36PM BST 24 Oct 2012



In their inaugural Test innings, fired by patriotic pride, Bangladesh’s batsmen fought their way to 400 on a very slow pitch. In their second innings they collapsed against India, and lost by a big margin – and the same has been happening pretty much ever since.

Read more:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/cri...-decision.html

[jeesh]

Difficult time for Bangladeshi cricket. And vultures and hyenas are in action.

[Zunaid]

Scyld Berry has been sniping at us since day one. The problem is this: we have nothing to counter him with. All we can do us put our tail between our legs and slink away. Thanks BCB.

[Nadim]

Shujug e shod bebohar...

Posted via BC Mobile Edition (Blackberry)

[Isnaad]

As if we are playing 3-4 tests every month. The last test match that we've played was 11 months ago. We played a total of 5 test matches in the last 28 months and our only opponents were Pakistan, West Indies and Zimbabwe.
...
I would say this is an absolutely ridiculous timing for such an article. Yes, our statistics don't come to our help but the fact that we have a Test status shouldn't bother them because we haven't played against any of the top teams in a while anyways.

[mij]

Originally Posted by Isnaad
As if we are playing 3-4 tests every month. The last test match that we've played was 11 months ago. We played a total of 5 test matches in the last 28 months and our only opponents were Pakistan, West Indies and Zimbabwe.
...
I would say this is an absolutely ridiculous timing for such an article. Yes, our statistics don't come to our help but the fact that we have a Test status shouldn't bother them because we haven't played against any of the top teams in a while anyways.

He is chatting rubbish. Don't bother with his article.

[Jadukor]

^^ it's a vicious cycle man. We play crap and because of it top sides don't want to play us which explains the 11 months wait between tests which in turn sinks our test standards further. The only way out of this is a strong first class cricket in which the national players participate so that they are well trained in the longer format before any series.

[Isnaad]

According to this writer, Bangladesh has had only 2 players averaging 30 or more in test cricket. WRONG. 5 players from Bangladesh have an average of 30 or more and 3 more have their averages above 29. Did not do his homework did he?
...
In addition to that, the writer was very clever in limiting the average for bowlers to 39 and adding that only Shakib has an average below 39. Well, still he is WRONG. 5 bowlers from Bangladesh average below 39. And if 10 wickets or more are taken into account, still there are 2 bowlers who fit into that criteria. And when I said, the author was clever with picking bowlers averaging 39 or below I meant: 4 bowlers average between 39.01 and 42 and they have picked significant amount of wickets.
...
It's amazing how someone who does not get his stats right writes for a newspaper as big as The Telegraph.

[Isnaad]

And wow, something even more hilarious:
"In 50-over and 20-over cricket Bangladesh spring a surprise about once a year by winning."
..
Where are your stats to back that up Mr. Scyld Berry?
.
Considering Bangladesh's 50-over run:
Bangladesh's win:loss ratio against G8 teams:
In the last 7 years: 0.23:1
In the last 5 years: 0.26:1
In the last 3 years: 0.32:1
..
"A win about once a year" sounds a bit too harsh now does it not? Now one may argue, West Indies backed their second string team back in 2009, take that out of the equation. Well, then there you go, the last three years row excludes that.

[BANFAN]

Well, he might have manipulated stats, but even if fill advantage is given to us, still it will not say that we have shown very good improvement against G8. And when people see such inefficient management by BCB, hope of a rapid improvement diminishes further. So we really don't have any option but to keep quiet and respond by showing undeniable improvements. That largely depends on the quality of manage,net we are able to provide.

[Isnaad]

Originally Posted by BANFAN
Well, he might have manipulated stats, but even if fill advantage is given to us, still it will not say that we have shown very good improvement against G8. And when people see such inefficient management by BCB, hope of a rapid improvement diminishes further. So we really don't have any option but to keep quiet and respond by showing undeniable improvements. That largely depends on the quality of manage,net we are able to provide.

Agreed. Still, an article with such incorrect stats is acceptable by no means. Someone needs to go and tell him to get his stats right.

[BANFAN]

Originally Posted by maysun
I get the thrashing, but the exaggeration and without the right stats backing the piece, makes the article a FAIL.

Originally Posted by Isnaad
Agreed. Still, an article with such incorrect stats is acceptable by no means. Someone needs to go and tell him to get his stats right.

I agree that he had been manipulative.

Think, we have 5 holes and he tries to make it 10, will you walk up to him and prove/acknowledge that you have 5 ? or just try to first cover up those five and then walk up to him? Choice is ours.....

[Maysun]

I get the thrashing, but the exaggeration and without the right stats backing the piece, makes the article a FAIL.

[Roni_uk]

24 hours on... the article has

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Relax - no one is reading it. Lets keep it that way

[frd]

Originally Posted by Roni_uk
24 hours on... the article has

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Relax - no one is reading it. Lets keep it that way

atleast he made us read this crap :P

[Naimul_Hd]

didn't bother to read. Garbage. waste of time.

[simon]

tabijch please!

didn't even read , rather enjoyed reading Isnu miya's posts.

[Naimul_Hd]

@ Isnaad, post your comments on their 'user comment' section. That would help other readers to get full picture and to understand how biased the writer was.

[meazz1]

Bottom line, play better and this type rubbish will stop. Until, pay no attention.

[Naimul_Hd]

Originally Posted by meazz1
Bottom line, play better and this type rubbish will stop. Until, pay no attention.

where was he when BD whitewashed NZ and won series against WI ? Where was he when BD beat Ind, SL and became runners up in Asia Cup ?

Doesn't matter how good you perform, as soon as you start to perform bad, those critics will come again and show how poor you are ignoring your success stories. That's what i hate most.

[meazz1]

Originally Posted by Naimul_Hd
where was he when BD whitewashed NZ and won series against WI ? Where was he when BD beat Ind, SL and became runners up in Asia Cup ?

Doesn't matter how good you perform, as soon as you start to perform bad, those critics will come again and show how poor you are ignoring your success stories. That's what i hate most.

If we can count our successes for last 10+ yrs with one hand, that tells you all.

[Ian Pont]

It is difficult not to agree with the essence of the article I have to admit. Apart from the odd mistaken figure, the facts are pretty much laid bare.

It doesn't reflect the subtle improvements since September 2010 (Banglawash vs NZ, beating England at a WC, wins over India & SL at Asia Cup), but the trend is not really upwards and the individual efforts of the players as a unit is just not improving. This is not a place for comparisons with others from more favoured countries yet a simple example of England's number 7, Matt Prior, who averages above 42 with 6 centuries, and you can see where this article is going.

What is likely prompting SB to write this is the fact that Pybus has come out with many issues behind the scenes that appear to restrict progress (in his view) and the fact that Ireland will be soon making their excellent case for Test status. I can't deny I would expect Ireland to overtake Bangladesh in Test nation rankings within a few years due to their coaching ethos and organisation, plus player attitude. Their players already gaining valuable experience in English county cricket.

SB's article implies some sort of paralysis and stagnation of both ideas and output in Bangladesh. He puts the blame at the ex-President's door for that. I believe that unless and until the board is truly independently elected (and not a government appointed board) that the last 12 years will continue. You just have to have cricket people running cricket, with a genuine knowledge of what needs to be done and a will to do it.

For all of us who have a passion for cricket development in Bangladesh, there are many more who prefer to keep it as it is for various non-cricket reasons.

Sport can often just be used a vehicle of financial control and power by those who do not have cricket matters at their own heart. I think if you read between the lines in this SG article, that is what he was perhaps touching on.

Just by putting collective fingers in ears and going "la,la,la" to drown out what's being said in these articles, doesn't make them any less true. Instead, it would be prudent to delve deeper and see what can be done to improve. At least someone is bothering to highlight genuine issues.

[mufi_02]

No doubt we have been a total disappointment as a test side. We got the test status too soon without a viable first class system in place. Even after 12 years, its still not in correct shape or form. Reflecting the title of the article "Playing BD, batsmen's dream", even Jason Gillespie scored a double century against us.

We need to play more and more FC games. Our domestic calendar should be --

4 months of NCL (FC)
1 month regional tournament (picking best 60 players from NCL and then divide East/West/North/South)
2 months DPL
1 month BPL

That's 8 months of cricket and 4 months of break in between. That should be enough for the fringe and less knows players to avoid having Aftab-esque physique.

[AsifTheManRahman]

Wow, so much denial. Let's fix our problems first before retaliating. The gist of the article is valid even if the details are exaggerated.

[Raynman]

stats can be manipulated easily.

If you choose to put on rose colored glasses and say, BD in their last 50 over encouters defeated IND, SL, WI, ENG and NZ not to mention ZIM, NED, IRE as well but that does not mean we belong in the top half of the ODI world.

Bottom line is until our winning habits prove consistent we have to abosorb the criticism thrown at us.

I'm not sure what the full solution is or if it is attainable (Board corrections, internal dev programs etc.) but I really feel that partnering up with ZIM and IRE to have continuous tours between them while inviting one or more G8 nations in each trip for a multi national tournament will benefit all of these countries. I'm sure SA (when in NZ), ENG (when in IRE) and IND/SL/PAK (when in BD) will be willing to send their teams schedule permitting.