Jamie remains confident
Bangladesh will get their last chance to get back some confidence ahead of three-match one-day international series against Australia when they meet Northern Territory Chief Minister's XI in a one-day match at the Gardens Oval in Darwin today.
The Tigers have had a forgettable show in the four practice matches against the Australian Institute of Sports (AIS) as they lost three games and won only one.
The bowling of the visitors had no answers against the Academy boys and the batting also gradually lost its way that resulted in a humiliating nine-wicket defeat in the last game.
"It is a worry as you have to take wickets early on and also keep the runs down. If the opposition is 120 in 20 overs then it is almost impossible to get back in the game. We have not hit the right areas and have some work to do before the internationals," said coach Jamie Siddons while speaking to local reporters during the Tigers' training at the Marrara Oval yesterday. Siddons nevertheless believes his bowlers will be back especially after watching pacers Shahadat Hossain and Mashrafe Bin Mortaza hold their own in adverse situations, according to TigerCricket.com.
"Shahadat delivered rockets according to the AIS batsmen and he has been world class. We have a world-class bowler in (Mashrafe Bin) Mortaza and some good spinners. I think they'll be up for it when the ODIs start. After all we are here to play international games and not practice matches," Siddons said.
Vice-captain Mortaza felt everything was not lost in the practice games.
"We had some very good practice against a strong team," said Mortaza adding: "All of our main batsmen got runs at some point. Apart from the last match we made 270, 288 and 316 and that's very encouraging."
Mortaza, one of the three survivors in the present squad from the team that defeated Australia at Cardiff in 2005 was also asked whether another fairytale was possible for the Tigers. "I have to say yes because we have done it before. Whatever the results may be I can say this much that if every player is able to give his hundred percent then we will compete against Australia. We are all keyed up for the big games."
Siddons also thought the Cardiff win would act as a fillip.
"Every now and then the boys who were there pull my leg by reminding me of that win as I was a coach of the Australian team at that time. I am sure they all are eagerly waiting for the series to start."
In a bid to keep him fresh for the ODI series Bangladesh might rest Shahadat who has created quite an impression in Darwin through his pace and hostility.
The Chief Minister's XI, coached by former Bangladesh and GP-BCB National Cricket Academy trainer Shane McDermott and who have in their ranks Western Australia fast bowler Trent Kelly, who will also play in today's match.
TEAMS
BANGLADESH (from): Tamim Iqbal, Zunaed Siddiqui, Mohammad Ashraful (Captain), Rokibul Hassan, Shakib Al Hasan, Alok Kapali, Dhiman Ghosh (Wicketkeeper), Mahmudullah Riyad, Forhad Reza, Abdur Razzak, Mashrafe Bin Mortaz, Dollar Mahmud, Mehrab Hossain, Nazmul Hossain and Shahadat Hossain
CHIEF MINISTER'S XI (from): Ashley Williams, Darcy Short, Blyne Cornford, Michael Miller, Stuart Johnstone, Shane McDermott, Simon Lavers, Robert Kensey, Stephan Regan, Kym Lawrence, Trent Kelly, Richmond Hodgeson, Todd Pemble, Cameron Francis and Scott Allen.
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