“If we can’t stick to our planning even against lower-ranked sides, how can we expect growth in Test cricket? I’m not against offering spin-friendly conditions, but why against Zimbabwe? Why did we lose confidence after one loss?”
Reapplying tried and tested methods in Chattogram after the defeat in Sylhet worked wonders for Bangladesh as they made easy work off Zimbabwe in the second Test, rolling them over by an innings and 106 runs inside three days and levelled the two-match series 1-1 today.
By the time the BCB finally read the room – deciding to open the gates to schoolchildren starting from Day 2 of the second Test in Chattogram – the galleries in Sylhet and now in Chattogram echoed like ghost towns.
Spinners Taijul Islam and Nayeem Hasan spun the momentum of the day in the final session as Zimbabwe reached 227-9 at stumps on Day 1 of the second and final Test at the Bir Sreshtho Flight Lieutenant Matiur Rahman Stadium in Chattogram today.
Bangladesh bowlers failed to make any breakthroughs post-Lunch as Nick Welch and Sean Williams batted through the second session to take Zimbabwe to 161-2 at Tea on Day 1 of the second and final Test at the Bir Sreshtho Flight Lieutenant Matiur Rahman Stadium in Chattogram today.
Debutant Tanzim Sakib and Taijul Islam struck once each as Bangladesh reduced Zimbabwe to 89-2 at Lunch on Day 1 of the second and final Test at the Bir Sreshtho Flight Lieutenant Matiur Rahman Stadium in Chattogram today.
Reeling from a bruising defeat in Sylhet, Bangladesh will look to restore pride and square the series.
Only by losing the first Test in Sylhet could Bangladesh have fans, and everyone else, turn their focus towards themselves for a series that nearly experienced a media blackout, forcing the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) to get state-run BTV as the broadcast partner.
The hosts were left searching for answers after a dismal batting collapse saw them bowled out for 191 runs in the first innings -- a setback from which they never recovered.
Zimbabwe captain Craig Ervine did not want to attract pressure by thinking too much about the opportunity of a series win and instead wants stick to their plans in the second and final Test against Bangladesh in Chattogram starting tomorrow.
Bangladesh head coach Phil Simmons asked for fans' patience and said the management is trying to achieve long-term improvement a day before his charges take on Zimbabwe in the second Test in Chattogram in a bid to avoid a shameful series defeat.
Jaker, who scored 28 and 58 in Sylhet, believes the team's struggles stem from a lack of collective effort with the bat.
Bangladesh and the Zimbabwe cricket team have landed in Chattogram today for the second and final match of the two-Test series, set to begin on April 28.
He is five Tests away from becoming the first Bangladeshi cricketer to reach the 100-Test milestone — a landmark achievement. But milestones alone cannot justify selection if current form continues to deteriorate.
With the final wicket of the day, Miraz—playing his 52nd Test—also became only the third Bangladeshi to reach 200 wickets (after Taijul Islam and Shakib Al Hasan).
The latest slip-up came courtesy of Zimbabwe, who secured a gripping three-wicket win in fading light -- an outcome that, in truth, should never have been on the cards.
Heavy rain and a storm hit Sylhet last night, leaving the outfield damp and unfit for play at the scheduled start time of 9:45 am.
Bangladesh ended the day on 57 for one in their second innings, still trailing by 25 runs after Mehedi Hasan Miraz took five wickets to help bowl Zimbabwe out for 273.
At home, the Shanto-led side lost all four Tests they played, getting clean-swept 2-0 by both Sri Lanka and South Africa last year
