Historic win against NZ at start of year raise hopes

The historic win against New Zealand at Mount Maunganui at the start of the year raised hopes that Bangladesh's Test cricket would finally take the next step, but things have gone in the opposite direction as the Tigers have since been on a long wretched run in the longest format of the game.

Bangladesh's questionable batting approach was once again the key factor behind their downfall, leading to a comprehensive seven-wicket defeat against the West Indies on the fourth morning of the first Test in Antigua yesterday. There would remain some regrets, especially after Shakib Al Hasan and Nurul Hasan got out, adding 123 runs for the seventh wicket and helping avoid an innings defeat by posting 245 runs. With a bit more contribution from the top-order, the task for West Indies could have been much stiffer. There would remain regrets that Khaled Ahmed, who took three quick wickets early in the second innings, didn't get any support from the other bowlers.

There was panic in the West Indies dressing room after Khaled's triple strike, but John Campbell and Jermaine Blackwood remained calm for the end of the day and finished the job early on the fourth morning. Resuming the day on 49 for three in chase of a small target of 84, West Indies finished things off inside half-an-hour of play to take a 1-0 lead in the two-match series. The defeat and the capitulation by the batters came as a huge setback considering the fact that these batters showed great temperament and displayed a collective approach in New Zealand on their way to posting 458 runs in the first innings, that too against a potent Kiwi fast-bowling attack.

Interestingly, the two half-centurions of that victory – Najmul Hossain Shanto and Mominul Haque – have become liabilities of the team due to their poor run of form.

Of course it is not only about the failure of these two top-order batters; in fact the entire batting department has come under heavy scrutiny due to their lack of adaptability, both in technical and mental aspects.

Bangladesh have played six Tests this year since the win in New Zealand and suffered comprehensive defeats in five of those matches. The only other result was a draw, coming against  Sri Lanka in Chattogram recently before a comprehensive 10-wicket defeat in the second Test in Mirpur. Tigers' batting coach Jamie Siddons needs to identify the issues and rectify the mistakes quickly, with only three days left for the start of the second Test. Otherwise, things may spiral out of control for them. The Daily Star