BRAC Bank Series 2008Second Test starts today
Bangladesh opener Zunaed Siddiqui (C) holds onto a chance during a slip-fielding session at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium yesterday. The Tigers will hope that Zunaed shakes off his poor form and gives the team a good start as the second Test gets underway today. Photo:
Bangladesh opener Zunaed Siddiqui (C) holds onto a chance during a slip-fielding session at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium yesterday. The Tigers will hope that Zunaed shakes off his poor form and gives the team a good start as the second Test gets underway today. Photo:
The weather was gloomy but there was no darkness in the face of the Tigers ahead of the today's second and final Test at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur. It had been a common scene in the Bangladesh tent to look downcast while going into the second match after a heavy defeat in the first one. But this time the scenario has been reversed, although they are still 1-0 down in the series. The reason is simple: a spirited performance in the first Test at Chittagong.
The home team lost the match but won the hearts of many by the way they fought against the Kiwis for five days before New Zealand skipper Daniel Vettori snatched the three-wicket victory. Here, however, lies the challenge for Mohammad Ashraful's men as they have to prove a point that they are consistent in their performance, irrelevant of results. And the Bangladesh skipper knows that only 'good cricket' for session after session can ensure that they will be competitive enough in the last match of an otherwise good series.
"Our target remains same as we have to bat eight sessions. I think we played good cricket for five days in the first Test and we should continue it. We have to win sessions if we want to be competitive in the Test," said Ashraful in a pre-match press conference at Mirpur yesterday. In Ashraful's consideration the most encouraging feature in the first match was his side's approach to make an effort until the end of the match. "We have to focus on a few things like our first innings batting which was good in Chittagong.
But we were a few runs short…a set batsman should carry his batting for long and undoubtedly the top five should give a platform which was not the case in the first Test," said Ashraful. At this point naturally the question was raised about his own performance because the Tigers skipper scored 0 and 2 in the first Test. Was he feeling any extra pressure?: "No, my performance was not good but as a team we played good cricket.
I am trying my best and I am hopeful about the second Test match."Then is it the bowling or batting of the New Zealand skipper, Daniel Vettori, the main headache for his side?: "Both (batting and bowling) but honestly speaking we are thinking only about our improvement. We are not surprised by our performance in the first match because we were practising hard for this and the key thing is that we continue it," he said. The Bangladesh captain, however, admitted that the absence of injured Jacob Oram is an advantage for his side.
"The absence of an all-rounder like Oram will definitely effect the team balance and of-course it is an advantage for us that he will not be available for the second Test but once again I want to say that our main focus is on our own performance". In the first Test the Tigers have learnt that hard lesson on how tough it is to win a Test match but another effort like the first match would definitely be highly praised from all corners.
TEAMS
BANGLADESH (12): Tamim Iqbal, Zunaed Siddique, Mohammad Ashraful (captain), Mehrab Hossain, Mushfiqur Rahim, Shakib Al Hasan, Naeem Islam, Mashrafe Bin Mortaza, Abdur Razzak, Shahadat Hossain, Mahbubul Alam Robin
NEW ZEALAND (From): Aaron Redmond, Jamie How, Jesse Ryder, Ross Taylor, Brendon McCullum, Daniel Flynn, Daniel Vettori (captain), Kyle Mills, Jeetan Patel, Lain O'Brien, Grant Elliott, Mark Gillespie, Tim Southee.