‘We didn’t plan for this sort of pitch’
The team selection, the approach with the ball, the listless body language on the field and the obvious lack of patience and adaptability with the bat -- Bangladesh has been below par in all aspects till the end of the second day of the second Test against the West Indies.
Bangladesh is fighting to avoid the follow-on at their home of cricket in Mirpur on 105 for four in reply to the sizeable 409 from the West Indies.
The likes of Soumya Sarkar, Nazmul Hossain Shanto, skipper Mominul Haque and even the experienced Tamim Iqbal all have themselves to blame for playing rash strokes and surrendering the opportunity to take on the just when it mattered after the hosts started batting in the final session.
Many questioned the temperament of the Bangladeshi batsmen against a rather inexperienced West Indies side who are now on top of the hosts and are looking to seal a 2-0 series win that was unthinkable before the visitors' stirring triumph in the first Test in Chattogram.
"First of all, the wicket was really good to bat on and all our four wickets that fell were not related to the pitch or even a brilliant delivery. All four were because of the batsman's error. I think it's our fault and If we had not lost more than two wickets, we could have been in a better position. I have to say they [West Indies] are on top," Tamim told the media yesterday.
West Indies, resuming the second day on 223 for five, capitalised on undisciplined bowling from the Tigers. Batsman Nkrumah Bonner, wicketkeeper Joshua Da Silva, and even fast bowler Alzarri Joesph at number eight scored big against lacklustre bowling from Bangladesh.
"Obviously, we wanted to take early wickets when we started the day and it would have been good if we could restrict them below 300," he said, and went on to add that it's not only about the errors of the hosts, but credit should also be given to the West Indies batters.
There were other aspects that Tamim blamed such as the pitch, which according to the left-hander did not turn as much as the team management had expected in order to favour the three spinners in the Tigers' line-up.
Bangladesh once again fielded only one specialist seamer in the form of Abu Jayed, who ended up picking four wickets alongside left-arm spinner Taijul Islam.
Tamim was asked whether they should have included another seamer in the eleven.
"Look, the plan we had before the start of the Test match was not for this sort of pitch. When a home team picks three spinners, it's not rocket science to realise that we expect the wicket to spin more. But unfortunately, it didn't spin for whatever reason and as we couldn't execute our plans due to the wicket -- there will be discussion about it," said Tamim.
When asked whether the Tigers have any realistic chance to accomplish the daunting task of saving this Test, Tamim said they have no other option than to believe they can.
As they had learned little from the loss in Chattogram, where there was also noise about the pitch not helping the hosts as much as expected, it seems that belief is a brave and optimistic one.