We are not sure how seriously Bangladesh cricket think tank takes notice of what are happening every day in the cricket world. If they do they have so much to learn form and replicate. A very important test match is in progress between Australia and West Indies. On the second day of the test Adam Voges, the Australian debutant at the age of 34 years 243 days scored a very important test century in at Windsor Park, Roseau, and Dominca. In the same innings West Indian leg spinner D Bishoo took 6/80.  What lessons Bangladesh can take? There are definitely few. Do not discard quality players in their thirties unless they are not match fit and do not ignore quality leg spinners.

Australia is among the top cricket playing nation since the game is played. It is now World Champion and has won the title for the record five times. No other country has won more than twice. Australia has very organized domestic cricket structure which spots talents in their teens and grows them in a very systematic manner. The country has few hundred cricket players of international class. Still they can introduce a player at the age of almost 35 to represent the country and he delivers.

Where as in Bangladesh which is still at intermediate class of learning quality cricket regularly abandons quality cricketers in early thirty. It happened earlier with Minhazul Abedin, Aminul Islam, Akram Khan, Mohammad Rafique, Shahriar Hossain and now happening with Abdur Razzak, Shahriar Nafees, Aloke Kapali and Naeem Islam. At the age of 40 Misbah Ul Haque is the main stay in Pakistan test batting. Bangladesh does not have a domestic format to tap potential talents and develop quality cricketers. All those appear are natural talent. With very limited opportunities they perform and with very limited playing opportunities at international level they show their class. Yet the short sighted cricket think tank abandons quality cricketers at their prime. We believe Aminul, Minhazul, Akram Khan, Rafique had at least few more years of quality cricket left in them in Bangladesh standard when they were abandoned. At 32 Abdur Razzak is a matured wily spinner who has still three to four years at least to contribute for Bangladesh cricket at international level. Similarly Shahriar Nafees, Alok Kapali definitely deserved a second look in test cricket.

Another lesson from yesterday’s test match Bangladesh cricket think tank must take is that leg spinners are wicket takers. D Bishoo taking six wickets showed why leg spinners must be included in test if there is any quality one in sight. Bangladesh chief selector while announcing the test squad very reluctantly mentioned that it was insistence of captain Mushfiqur and head Coach they had to include young leg spinner Jubayer Hossain in the squd. He is young, he is talented and he deserves opportunity on sheer merit as leg spin is a rare art. We witnessed Bishoo had Brad Haddin bowled almost like great Shane Warne did several years before on the same day against England. We hope Bangladesh think tank will be smart enough in including Jubayer in the playing eleven and be patient with him.

Two sad incidents happened yesterday. Reliable batsman Mahamudullah had a fracture in his finger while fielding during practice session and was ruled out for the entire series. Definitely a sad blow. He has been replaced by batting all-rounder Nasir Hossain. In our opinion Nasir should have been in original squad in place of bits and pieces player. Bangladesh was definitely lucky that the road accident that Mashrafee encountered only caused minor injury. His dynamic exemplary leadership is essential for Bangladesh to compete well against strong India in very important ODI series.

Now with Mahamudullah not available and Nasir back team management has to rethink team strategy. Nasir gives added options with his more than useful spin bowling and brilliant fielding apart from proven late order batting. Now wicket keeper batsman Liton can definitely bat at number four or five and Nasir at seven. In the changed circumstances my suggested playing eleven would be

Tamim, Kayes, Mominul, Mushfiqur, Liton, Shakib, Nasir, Taijul, Rubel, Shahid and Jubayer. If Mushfiqur can also keep wickets then Soumya can get in place of Liton.

With Nasir in the squad  Bangladesh will have infact six bowlers and if Soumya is also there they can have as many as seven without depleting the batting strength.

We hope whatever selectors say Bangladesh will appear with very positive frame of mind .If they could challenge very strong Australia in test at Fatullah Stadium in early days of Bangladesh test history which only great Ricky Ponting rescued for Aussies why Bangladesh cannot upset India in the same venue? It needs right perception, mental strength and right attitude.

BDST: 0824 HRS, JUN 05, 2015
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