Test Cricket : A Resurgent Bangladesh Coming to India

A Decisive Shift in Bangladesh Cricket

As a Test playing nation Bangladesh have had  a bumpy ride. Of the 144 Test Matches played by the Bangla Tigers since getting Test  status, they have secured victories in just 21 matches, losing 105 and drawing 18. Their winning percentage being a meagre 13.98. Having watched them play for a long time now, they have been  perennial underachievers, considering the amount of talent they possess and the ever growing population of belligerent fans backing them to the hilt. However, their last series in Pakistan may just be  indicating a decisive shift.

A Confidence Boosting Series Win in Pakistan

Bangladesh played like Champions and comprehensively beat Pakistan 2-0 ( in the two match series ) to secure their first series win against Pakistan and that too away from home. Pakistan appeared  overconfident when the series began, but as the matches progressed they were well and truly beaten by a more driven and well prepared side. Much sooner than later, the Pakistani players began to look jaded, unfit, unsure of themselves and lacked so much self belief, that they just crumbled when put under pressure by the Tigers from the East.

Litton Das Comes Off Age

It has to be said that everything came together for Bangladesh at the right time. With the chaos back home notwithstanding, the players exhibited great focus on the job at hand. They impressed and outplayed Pakistan in every department. The openers Shadman and Zakir, both looked good at the crease, Captain Shanto did not have a great series with the bat, but the ever reliant Mushfiqur Rahim batted brilliantly. Mehdy Hasan Miraz too had a great series with both bat and ball and finally the much talked about Litton Kumar Das came off age and showed his true potential. Twice he displayed great temperament in difficult situations and pulled Bangladesh into wining positions. 

Nahid Rana – The Upcoming Quick

The pace bowling however impressed me the most from Bangladesh. They were several notches above the Pakistani pace bowlers ( can you believe this ). Hasan Mehmood , Taskin Ahmad and Nahid Rana ( the 21yr old tear away quickie ) made life difficult for Pakistanis, bowling with loads of intent, purpose, pace and swing. Nahid Rana,  bowling around the 150 kph mark was too hot to handle. In stark contrast, the lethargic Pakistani seam attack struggled to get through the Test matches. Shaqib and Mehdy Hasan were hugely effective as a spin duo for the Bangla Tigers too.

India Take Note

This resurgence ( so to say ) of the Bangladesh Test Team, makes the upcoming 2 – match India series an interesting one. With nothing to lose and soaring confidence,  Bangladesh would be a slightly tougher opposition than it has usually been. The Indian think tank and the Selection Committee have taken congnizance of the opposition and have announced a full strength team for the first Test Match in Chennai under the captaincy of Rohit Sharma, beginning on the 19th of September.

Bumrah Prepares For Bangla Series

Jasprit Bumrah, who was expected to be rested for the series has been included to spearhead the bowling attack which looks lethal at the outset, a sharp contrast to what has been witnessed by Bangladesh in Pakistan. Nevertheless, an interesting series awaits us, and with important WTC points at stake India cannot afford to bring its guard down.

Lanka Trump England

As I write this post today, Sri Lanka riding on a classy century by Pathum Nissanka have humbled England to win the third and final test of the series at the Kia Oval. Though England have won the series 2-1, some unexpected loose cricket from them have cost them a Test Match. Kudos to Lanka for keeping their spirits high. They played valiantly right through the series and deserved their victory today.

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