From Antigua to Mirpur, script flipped
It was a common joke in the aftermath of a calamitous Bangladesh performance, like when West Indies mauled them in the Caribbean in July this year, that someone must have swapped the pitch during the change of innings as what seemed like a dangerous wicket when Bangladesh batted turned into a docile one when they were bowling.
Yesterday in Mirpur, West Indies were the butt of that particular joke as after allowing Bangladesh to go from 190 for five to 508 all out, they crumbled to 29 for five on the same wicket. Although West Indies have not yet been dismissed for 43 as Bangladesh were in Antigua, the cluelessness on the part of the visitors across the two series has been identical.
West Indies were hounded by sharply spinning deliveries during the 64-run loss in the first Test in Chattogram, but even after bowling for 154 overs on the Mirpur wicket, they seemingly failed to realise that the two wickets were not the same.
Skipper Kraigg Brathwaite played for the turn against counterpart Shakib Al Hasan and saw an arm-ball sneak between a yawning gap between bat and pad. Kieran Powell, Shai Hope and Roston Chase departed in the same manner -- playing for the turn and being done in by the lack of it -- but none made the adjustment to play with bat and pad close together to guard against the mode of dismissal.
If Bangladesh were ridiculed for their lack of awareness of how to play pace in seaming conditions, West Indies deserve the same amount of censure. After the day's play, left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican spoke about it and removed all doubt about their cluelessness against spin.
"Obviously it's a day two wicket coming on to the end of play. When Bangladesh batted it was a day one wicket and much flatter," Warrican said when asked to explain the mystery of the transforming wicket. That of course ignored the fact that Bangladesh batted for most of the second day as well.
He was however was able to explain how the wickets fell. "I guess the guys played for too much turn and clearly the ball kept straight and lost the key wickets. We just need to apply ourselves tomorrow."
Application may not be enough to cover for the lack of skill and awareness displayed so far. Although cricketers do not speak of revenge, it seems that the scene is set for Bangladesh to exact some payback over the coming days.
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