‘Have to bat with more responsibility’

"I never complained about sledging. Because in cricket, sledging happens and you need to absorb it. And you have to take it very easily. I never actually complained about it."

— Mominul Haque Bangladesh Test captain

"How much do you think batting second affected the outcome of the first Test?"

That was the question posed to Bangladesh Test skipper Mominul Haque on the eve of the second Test against South Africa at Gqeberha, slated to begin from today.

A wry smile stretched across the skipper's face. After all, the decision to bowl first after winning the toss caused an uproar when Bangladesh were bowled out on day five at Kingsmead, losing their seven remaining wickets inside an hour and losing by 220 runs.

Mominul was more than willing to avoid answering the inquisition. "I think it's very difficult to talk about the previous match. It's past us and it's better not to talk about it."

Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president Nazmul Hassan said in an interview that a few seniors had pushed to not bat first, ignoring suggestions from coach Russell Domingo and pace bowling coach Alan Donald.

Mominul had taken responsibility for the defeat but remained tight-lipped on the role those few seniors played behind the decision to not bat first. The difference in opinion in the team management's hierarchy was what encompassed the Tigers before the second Test today.

Gqeberha is likely to offer another very sporting wicket where swing will be on offer while spinners may also get purchase from the surface as the match wears on. Mominul said he was still undecided about an extra spinner and informed that the decision would be reserved for after they had looked at the surface.

"This is Test cricket. It's a man's environment when it comes to playing at this level and I intend still to play the game hard. We don't swear or use foul language towards the Bangladesh batsmen because we still respect them. I think they need to harden up and maybe play the game at a level they're not used to." South Africa Test captain Dean Elgar defended his team against allegations of "unbearable sledging" during the first Test against Bangladesh in Durban.

The challenges at Port Elizabeth will be in the form of a 'wind tunnel' that blows over the ground, thereby assisting swing or even drift for spinners. The challenges will be different to the two recent Tests in New Zealand and the one at Durban, where consistency was key. According to Donald, more creativity will be required to get wickets and, in that regard, Taskin Ahmed and Shoriful Islam's consistency in the format will be missed. Reverse swing could also be on offer.

"It's actually a bit hot here and the challenge of reverse swing may appear. Alongside that, the wind may also cause some swing. We have to adjust and play," Mominul said, perhaps eying the conditions as more of a challenge than something that could be used to seize the advantage. The indecisiveness was a precursor to difficult decisions today after the think-tank have had a look at the pitch

Mominul was only opting to take the positives from the first Test. "Taskin and Khaled [Ahmed] bowled well. [Mahmudul Hasan] Joy batted very well and so did Liton [Das]. Everyone is amongst the runs and was compact," he said, pointing out the fact that Bangladesh had not thrown away wickets without application while also suggesting they were not battered down by South Africa's sledging.

"We batted really badly in the last innings. I feel everyone is in a good mood and confident about the next match. We have to bat with more responsibility," the captain remarked.

Opener Tamim Iqbal will be available for a return after sitting out the first Test. It remains to be seen whether confidence can help Tigers make difficult decisions and heed their coaching staff's advice, especially from Domingo, who hails from Gqeberha.