Circumstances alter cases. The ensuing cricket series between India and Bangladesh promises to witness mouthwatering contests. If it lives up to billing it may lead to another regular popular bilateral contest and may become a regular bi lateral event in future.
India will find a different Bangladesh when they lock horns with Bengal Tigers in the series starting from second week of June 2015. Though India was the team to play the first ever test Bangladesh played yet it remains the only test playing country not to have invited Bangladesh for a bilateral series in India. Perhaps the ensuing series will change that scenario. Cricket world is eagerly waiting to witness hard fought thrilling contest.
How Bangladesh cricket changed in a matter of few months! In May 2014 things were looking down the barrel for the host. Bangladesh was in a losing cycle in all formats. But in May 2015 even a top cricket nation India has to take Bangladesh very seriously and send their best available team for the bilateral series.
Bangladesh in Bangladesh is always a very difficult team in ODI series. Though it failed to play to its potential for few months in 2014 yet it bounced back towards the end of the year. In world cup even on different playing surface and conditions Bangladesh looked a very different side. Some new quality players emerged and senior players performed well making the team truly competitive. The performance of the team against Pakistan in the recent bilateral series was a fairy tale to say the least. That confident Bangladesh will now appear against India.
India on the other hand had miserable time in Australia till the world cup. They were by far the weaker team in bilateral contest against Australia and the weakest in the Carlton Mid tri series involving Australia and England. But they bounced back in World Cup and roared to quarter finals where they encountered Bangladesh at MCG. That match could be far more competitive if not spoiled by some controversial umpiring decision. ICC appeared to be one eyed international organization favoring India for advancing them unfair. India was eventually blown away by in the semifinal.
The bitter memory of controversial MCG match will definitely flash back when the teams meet in the ODI series .Both the teams have lot to prove. But test match will be much different. India is a vastly experienced team having several world class performers. The retirement of MS Dhoni will marginally affect them. The new captain talented Virat Kohli will have a settled side. Shikhar Dhawan and Murali Vijay will launch the innings. Bangladesh’s pace attack for the test needs reinforcement. The attack in the Dhaka Test against Pakistan was raw and depleted.
In Australia, Indian batsmen apart from Virat Kohli and Ajinka Rahane did not play the Australian pace attack all that well. Off course Rohit Sharma was injured at the early part of Australia tour. Bangladesh does not have express fast bowlers like Mitchel Starc or Mitchel Johnson. But Rubel is brisk and in World Cup he was looking a different bowler. Hope he recovers fully before the test and lead the attack. But Bangladesh is handicapped in finding a new ball pair for Rubel and for this they may hesitate to prepare sporting wicket leaving some opportunity for pacers.
One must not expect Mashrafee to risk his battered knees for the rigor of test match. We know even young Taskin is considered not ready for test matches. Mohammad Shahid looked alright. But he can be the third pacer in the side. Bangladesh should consider playing Taskin if that does not create additional risk. They have to take early wickets and make inroad into strong Indian batting line up. Virat Kohli, CheteswarPujara, Ajinka Rahane and Rohit Sharma make Indian test batting the strongest in world cricket now. This batting also plays spin much better than any team. Bangladesh spin attack with Shakib not performing at his best will struggle against strong Indian batting lineup.
So whatever chances Bangladesh has in test against India is with the pacers. That is why we thought ignoring a quality bowler like Al Amin was a serious misjudgment on the part of the selectors. Mashrafee, Taskin , Mustafiz will make the ODI attack very strong .But Rubel coming back from injury and less experienced Mohammad Shahid may struggle in test. Even Shafiul will be returning after long layoff. Bangladesh did not bowl at all well in the two tests against Pakistan. Indian test batting is a t least 1.5 times stronger than Pakistan. We must not expect Taijul or Arafat Sunny taking many wickets against India in test. Bangladesh cannot also afford to have spinning track. Harbhajan and Ashwin will make merry in that case. We do not think Bangladesh test attack is capable of taking 20 Indian wickets in test. As such if Bangladesh has to compete at all in test it has to bat and bat well.
Tamim was in prolific form in all formats. Hope he is fully fit and is on song. Kayes looked a very confident batsman as his partner. Little Mominul is on the brink of history. If he manages to score a fifty in the test he will equal the enviable record of AD de Villiers for the most consecutive fifty or more in test cricket. Who will bat at number four? Mahamudullah was prolific in World Cup. He scored back to back centuries in World Cup. But he was a bit off color again Pakistan. The injury to Mushfiqur may necessaire playing Liton Kumar Das as wicket keeper batsman relieving Mushfiqur a little bit to concentrate in batting. Mushfiqur is the premier batsman in the team.
Much will depend on his long innings. Liton is actually a top order batsman and if he plays he should bat not lower than number four. Mushfiqur, Shakib, Shabbir/Nasir can give solidity to the middle order. But Mahamudullah is also a very reliable player and quality batsman. Bangladesh has to appear with three pacers and if Zubayer is fit he should be included. So selectors will find it extremely difficult to choose one between Shabbir and Nasir and whether to stick with Mahamudullah or let Liton make debut. In bowling Rubel and Shahid will walk into test team. We are not sure Taskin would be risked. If not options left are Abul Hasan or Shafiul. Bangladesh must not appear with two pacers under any circumstances. We won’t suggest wasting Soumya Sarkar in test and rather preserving him for much utility use in ODI series. Selecting one between Taijul and Zubayer will be another dilemma.
Indian pace bowling is not much stronger than Pakistan .But the spin attack of Ashwin and Harbhajan must be dealt with care. Our batsmen are more intent on playing strokes .Test cricket requires concentration and patience. Test bowlers play on the patience of batsmen. We hope coaching stuff will make the batsmen ready before the test .The temperament of Mushfiqur and Mominul are ideal for test batting. Bangladesh should try to bat session to session and try to bat at least 7 sessions in each innings of the test if they want to salvage something.
The test before the ODI series has made the task for Bangladesh a bit more difficult. Bangladesh has to compete well in test. If not, it may affect the performance in ODI as well. ODI team is much more settled. Tamim and Anamul will in all probability open the batting with Soumya Sarkar coming at number three. Mahamudullah, Shakib, Mushfiqur, Shabbir, and Nasir make the middle order strong enough to challenge India. Mashrafee, Rubel and Taskin will make the full team. I am not sure whether Mustafiz can be given opportunity at the risk of playing one less batsmen. He impressed in his only appearance in T20. Indian batsmen have weakness against left arm pacers. Mustafiz moved the ball well.
Much is expected from Bangladesh in the series. A win in ODI series may not be impossible but not easy either. An ODI series win will further consolidate an honorable draw in the lone test is the most that can be expected but that should not the mindset. Bangladesh must appear with positive mindset.
BDST: 0859 HRS, MAY 22, 2015
HB
