A Bangladeshi view (ZIM in BD, Dec 2010)

[Kriterion_BD]

I feel like I can offer some insights into this series, from a BD perspective. Thoughts and analyses from the ZIM fans here are expected...

Series Outcome and Predictions

I don't want to make concrete predictions because at the end of the day it doesn't matter what the spreads are, the game is played for a reason and that is because until the final ball is bowled you cannot say who will win a single match, let alone an entire series. Expectations and "favorites" tags don't mean anything because international cricket is a different level altogether; everyone who plays is a damn good player and can theoretically turn any given match on its head.

However, the mood from the Bangladesh camp is definitely one in which even a closely-contested series win will be deemed as a failure. That is not to say that the tourists are being underestimated. Far from it, a few Bangladeshi fans have argued that this will be a tougher test than the one posed recently by New Zealand. And in many ways, it will be. All the Bangladeshi fans are aware of the batting resolve displayed in South Africa by the likes of Brendon Taylor and Co. The Bangladeshis are hungry for success, and have definitely been becoming greedy in that regard: what we have had is not enough, more is wanted. As is naturally so, Bangladesh is looking not to run away from Zimbabwe per se, but to catch up to the West Indies and New Zealand.

Personally, I expect Bangladesh to win the series. I think that much is certain. However, whether Bangladesh runs away with the series or barely scraps by is anyone's guess. Regardless, Elton Chigumbura has hit the nail right on the head when he stated that Zimbabwe cannot worry about what Bangladesh will be doing. Zimbabwe must focus on what they need to do. In cricket all teams can be beaten, and Bangladesh are far from unconquerable.

Keys to the Series

The pitch and conditions will perhaps be the biggest key. December is not really known for producing the same dew factor that February and March have on offer. Thus bowling second will probably not be such a bad thing. Unless the weather is cooler than normal, dew should not be a factor. And Dhaka/Chittagong are still quite warm even in December. I'd imagine temperatures anywhere from 22-30 degrees should be expected. The wicket should be low and slow, without much seam movement, and only moderate amounts of turn on offer at best. The Chittagong pitch where Zimbabwe were skittled all out for merely 44, and in which 14 wickets fell for about 90 odd runs was a very unexpected (and rather welcome, IMO) departure from the norm. That level of bounce and turn is generally not seen even on a 5th day Test match. I would be very surprised if Zimbabwe saw a wicket like this time around. The conditions will probably not offer much swing, apart from perhaps the first 5 overs or so, and therefore it becomes imperative to use reverse swing as early as it becomes available, keeping in mind the "new ball" is brought in after 34 overs. Batting first, the mantra will definitely be to rotate the strike, look for odd boundaries, and play on the front foot. Any total above 250 should be safe, given both teams have economic spinners aplenty, and totals as low as 220 are also defendable sums. In short, these will not be the smooth decks of South Africa.

Everyone is aware of Tamim Iqbal and Shakib al Hasan. There is no need to talk of these two players who can make the best cricketers on the planet look as helpless as a motherless newborn. But who are the guys, if any, that can impact the game that we might not expect?

Imrul Kayes
If one was to ask who is Bangladesh's leading scored in ODIs this calendar year, they would probably be surprised to learn it is not Tamim, nor Shakib himself. But Imrul is 150 runs away from his next closes competitor (Shakib), and though he's played 4 more innings than Tamim, boasts a higher average than his more famous opening partner. Imrul is not going to win you any games, but his solidity is likely to give Chigumbura headaches over the course of the next two weeks.
Avoid: Bowling anywhere near the stumps. Imrul rarely gets bowled, and more often than trapping him plumb, he will dispatch you to the leg side fence or unfurl a gorgeous straight drive.
How to get him out: Easiest way to get him, pitch it on a length and move it away from the lefty a shade; he struggles with that one.

Raqibul Hasan
The "Drama Queen" had a torrid series against New Zealand, despite his side cruising to a unprecedented 4-0 series win. He did however blast 190+ runs in 2 innings of domestic play, without being dismissed. His record against Zimbabwe is also quite solid, and like Imrul he can be hard to dislodge from the crease. Again, he is only slightly more likely to win a match with his bat as Osama bin Laden is of moving into the Playboy Mansion, but his is a wicket you want to get nonetheless.
Avoid: Causing any drama...if you do, he will likely put on a performance that Brian Lara would envy just to spite you.
How to get him out: Keep him on strike and cut off the singles, pressure will cause the greatest batsman to wilt.

Mohammad Ashraful
The Enigma returns. He is Sachin Tendulkar in flesh, Chris Martin in spirit...which probably explains why if you split their respective batting averages you'll come up with 23 - Ashraful's batting average. He recently batted his way to the Player of the Tournament award for the 2010 NCL domestic List A season, with a hundred, two fifties, and an average of 66 with a 85 strike rate. I personally hope he bats down the order where he can provide the power we so badly lack, and his fragile psyche is relieved of any responsibility.
Avoid: Bowling short and wide of off stump if you're a spinner of even the greatest calibre. Murali can't get him out that way, so you won't either.
How to get him out: Just wait for him to get himself out...and if its Eid day, don't bother he won't get out before causing some irreperable damage first.

Shafiul Islam
Has pace that skids onto the batsman. Can either be very accurate, beating the bat with religious regularity...or tend to take a beating. But one thing is for sure, he has a wicket taking propensity as his career strike rate of 30 will attest to. This could be the series where he breaks out.
Avoid: Flashing outside the off-stump, Shafi has a habit of moving it away from both LHBs and RHBs, and most of his wickets are caught behinds.
How to hit him: If he's having a good day, wait for the odd poor ball. If he's having a bad day, no instructions needed as Boycott's grandmother would score runs.

Rubel Hossain
Really came of age against New Zealand, where he first surprised us with his accuracy, and then with accuracy plus bite with his match-winning 4-fer in the final match of the series. Bowled well below himself that series, only approaching 140 kph a couple of times throughout. After working with Ian Pont, look for his pace and venom to have only increased. Will get reverse swing in the middle overs, so be prepared for late movement at a decent pace.
Avoid: Complacency after a good shot. The Royal Bengal Express is our finest "comeback" bowler.
How to hit him: If he bowls like he did against New Zealand, then just try not getting out. Target another bowler to hit.

[liamb]

An insightful series preview from the Bangladesh angle, to be sure, and I've got to say I agree with you on most points

[eugene]

Great to see a preview from Bangladesh's perspective.

[sloandog]

Very Interesting mate

[jamthala]

good article.