Go Bangladesh!
Bangladesh is dominating the test match versus Australia. Who would have thought. Then, who would have thought that Bangladesh would defeat Australia in a one day match on 18th May, 2005?
Angshuman Hazra writes at Different Strokes:
May Fatullah be the next Sophia Gardens, and much more.For millions of fans in a nation where cricket is the number one sport the past year or so has been like a generous helping of apple pie after the bitter pills swallowed along the learning curve. They are hoping for the best and urging their team on to another step up the ladder. With that kind of history against the top team in cricket world their prayers may not remain unanswered for long…
This test match could be the most significant step Bangladesh has taken in international cricket. There have been important steps earlier - Bangladesh’s qualification for the World Cup in 1999, the World Cup 1999 match they won against Pakistan, the Test Status, the near win versus Pakistan in a test, the one day international victory over Australia. Regardless of the result in this test match, Bangladesh are likely to be taken much more seriously post this test match. Bangladesh have already taken a very big leap.
Tags: Australian Cricket, Bangladesh Cricket.
April 15th, 2006 at 11:01 pm
Touche, and thanks. Have now read your piece, and couldn’t agree with you more: “Delhi hanuz durast”! And, of course. “Rome was not built in a day”.
And, then, “One swallow doesn’t make a summer”. Bangladesh has indeed a long way to go! But, optimistically, one small step for Bangladesh,but a big leap for Cricket.
April 16th, 2006 at 8:44 am
The dust having settled on Fatullah, the time is rife now to dissect and analyze why for the 26 years that Bangladesh has been playing international Cricket, it is not being able to come out of the woods.
My own feelings on this, though many might not agree, are as under:
1. Cricket is a mind game now. One has to have the mental antenna and the capacity to “think” and “outthink” for every “session” of the on-going game. And, Bangladeshi Cricketers, in general, tend neither to have the capacity to think and nor to outthink.
2. Modern-day Cricket is not any more just going out there or turning up there to either wield the bat or throw the ball. It has now eveolved almost into a science, where one is required to do a lot of study and home work not only on the game, but almost on every player’s technique (opponents in a given game) to find out the chinks in the armoury of the opposing player(s), and strategize during the on-going game to to set the field (if fielding) or play the batting (if batting) synchronized to the palying conditions. The deluge of reading and huge observation of video footage, and the long and meticulous planning that is required particularly from the Captain and the players iare, may be, wanting in the Bangladeshi Cricket team? Or, do they have the capability to source all the reading materials and video footage of the conntemporary opposition, and do they have the capacity to glean the essence of the strategy in these raw materials? The answers to these questions might shed light on Bangladesh Cricket teams’ poor performances for the last 26 years.
3. Cricket may still be a “gentleman’s game”, meaning perhaps the intellectual and behaviorial upbringing that should reflect the “mind game”! How does the Bangladesh Cricket team live up to this definition of the game?
4. Notwithstanding the definition of the “gentleman’s game”, Cricket is now almost palyed like a war, sledging, taunting, wart and all! Do the small demeanours of the “Bangladeshis” and the unthinking Captain and team members of the Bangladesh Cricket Team ooze out this war-like attitude?
5. The pressures of heavy and ignominous losses over the years and the criticisms that have gone with them have arguably stunted the growth of the winning attitude?
To come out of this captive mindset and rut, and evolve a combination of winning cricket with an war-attitude, old wine in a new bottle shall not do. A total revamping with a total strategy (say, like “Total Cricket”,a-la “Total Football”) is the order of the day for Bangladesh’s Cricket, and, hopefully, a recipe for success for the Bangladesh Cricket team.
Nizam M. Selim
April 16, 2006.
April 16th, 2006 at 10:26 pm
It was a very good piece by Angshu, Nizam. :) Bangladesh is improving though there are still steps to take. I hope the improvements continue.