DHAKA: Success breeds success is an old saying. This is true in all walks of life. When successes start coming on a consistent basis it becomes a winning habit.
Bangladesh Cricket team under dynamic and inspiring leadership of one of their finest athlete Mashrafe Bin Mortaza has developed winning habit in limited over version of cricket. We have seen how the first generation cricketers struggled with great commitment in setting the roots of cricket.
With very limited facilities, they had to deal with the strong teams of the world. Successes came infrequently. Bangladesh took sometime in achieving consistently. We cannot say the domestic format of cricket is still ideal for breeding quality cricketers. Neither the cricket organization is truly professional. But, the abundance of raw natural talents and commitment of cricketers have changed the mindset.
Bangladesh has made winning habits in at least limited over version of the game. Success is now breeding success. Still a long way to go yet .But we are sure a nation of 160 million cricket-frenzied Bangladesh can only climb the ladder up from here.
In recent months, Team Tigers as they are fondly called, have white washed Zimbabwe winning all five ODIs, played brilliantly in the world qualifying for the quarter finals, white washed Pakistan and now is on the verge of achieving another white wash against the second ranked ICC team India in the version.
The team has won ten ODIs on the trot at home and if they win today it will be their third consecutive series white washed achieved. It is now a perfect blend of established top quality players and budding youths. The team has spring in the leg and is playing carefree fearless cricket. Tigers are on hunting spree.
Yesterday in Melbourne while going back from Monash University after office hours in Metro Train met one Australian gentleman Christopher Coyle who played in Victoria Grade cricket for several years. We were discussing about cricket in general and emergence of new Bangladesh in particular. From discussion with him could understand the recent successes of Bangladesh after ICC world cup is also being discussed in Australian cricket community. He appeared to have knowledge about growth of Bangladesh cricket as he met the Australian Coaches that had mentored Bangladesh in the past.
He also told he can sense the Australian attitude of playing hard aggressive cricket has changed the psyche of the team. He informed me of watching both of the Bangladesh world cup group matches at MCG. He thought in first time appearances in the coliseum of cricket Bangladesh performed wonderfully well. He also sympathized with me about the unfair treatment that the team got in the quarterfinal.
The matter what impressed him most is the fearless competitive attitude of the team and leading from the front of tiger captain Mashrafe. He now follows every matches of Bangladesh though these matches continue till early morning of Australia time. He was talking and I was listening. Only a year from now I used to hesitate talking about Bangladesh Cricket with our Australian friends in Ringwood Cricket Club where I am a Golden Ram Member. How time changes? How brilliant performance of a country in international sports makes the country bigger and brighter in the world community. Tigers really made us proud in world community.
The success of Bangladesh has made other major teams like South Africa and Australia seriously assessing their prospects. They are the next two visitors. Bangladesh will no longer be a trip for happy hunting for them. The team that South Africa has selected for ODI does not include their two premiere bowlers Dayle Steyn and Vernon Philander. The ODI attack of Kyle Abbott, Morne Morkel, Wayne Parnell and Ryan McLaren is now being considered under strength. South Africans are relatively thin spin attack in any case. This is how repeated success has created a very positive image for Bangladesh Cricket in the world arena.
If the match today is won by Bangladesh, it will be a huge milestone achieved. Tigers have already hurt the ego of Indian cricket through winning the first two ODIs and winning the series. A whitewash will be humiliating for Indians which till now considers hosting Bangladesh in India a waste of time and money. All other teams including Australia, South Africa and England invited Bangladesh to play series in their country.
Bangladesh could hardly forget the insult rubbed on the team and it’s Bangladeshi ICC President after that MCG incident by Indian Chairman of ICC. A series white wash will be a fitting response.
Bangladesh has added leg spinner Jubair Hossain in the squad apparently to add variety to its bowling options. Jubair is a wicket taker. He possesses varieties and well concealed googly with which he bamboozled Virat Kohli in the test match. Indians were struggling to read him. Mustafiz still cannot be decoded by the Indians and if now the team takes a bold decision of adding Jubair to its armory Indian batting will have so much to worry.
Ravi Ashwin in the regular press brief appreciated the wonder boy Mustafiz in unqualified terms. He announced that India has worked out a plan to deal with him. Upon insistence of media, he said they have to deal with him as the only other option is to hijack him. Such is the impact the teenager has created. Indian team is possibly at the end of its wit.
Bangladesh has a pleasing dilemma whether to continue playing the winning combination or introduce Jubair replacing Taskin who reportedly is not 100%. It will not be bad decision as he struggled a bit in both matches and did not bowl his quota of overs. Team must not take risk with him, as he also is a precious possession of the team. The other option can be Mushfiqur keeping the wickets and Bangladesh playing with 6 batsmen and four + one = 5 specialist bowlers. They will be too risky and cannot be suggested.
We will suggest the following XI to play in the mission India
White Wash
Tamim Iqbal , Soumya Sarkar , Liton K Das, Mushfiqur Rahman , Shakib Al Hasan , Shabbir Rahman , Nasir Hussain , Mashrafee Bin Murtaza , Rubel Hossain , Jubair Hossain and Mustafizur Rahman.
We will like to see Mustafiz taking at least three more wickets today and Shakib taking at least three. Both of them have some milestones to achieve. Shakib will achieve his 200 ODI wickets and Mustafiz will create another world record of most wickets (14) in the first three ODI. If they achieve their milestones Bangladesh will also achieve a hat trick of ODI series white wash which will remain a bad dream for Dhoni and his men for a long long time. India will return empty handed.
BDST: 0808 HRS, JUN 24, 2015
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