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KP’s quest for form and Bangladeshi enthusiasm
By Rich Abbott Friday, 2 weeks ago, 2 Comments »
It’s the innings break at Chittagong, and for a dead-rubber against a team England have never lost to, the third and final ODI against Bangladesh has plenty to recommend it. Indeed, enough to persuade me to drag a duvet down to the living room at 3:00 this morning, though sadly that owes as much to a heady mixture of jet-lag and unemployment as it does possible on-pitch excitement.
Still, a potential eruption from mount Kieswetter, an ODI debut for Ajmal Shahzad, another chance for England’s pace-men to work out how to be threatening on the sub-continent and the continuation of Alastair Cook’s captaincy internship, awaited. Not to mention another chance to assess a certain number three batsman.
And so to the much-talked-about, uber-complicated, arguably-misunderstood, out-of-form elephant at the crease. Kevin Pietersen made a scratchy 22, before being pinned lbw by his chief poacher – a slow left-armer. He still hasn’t scored over 50 in an ODI since 2008, and this morning’s effort was not the corner-turn I’d hoped for as I stumbled out of bed to the news that England were batting first.
There will be calls for his head. But the opportunities left on this tour are few as it is, and cutting them further would be counter-productive. Providing he’s picked for the Tests, it’s possible that Pietersen only has three innings left this tour: a warm-up match and a couple of Test innings (batting twice is no guarantee in Tests against Bangladesh). Pietersen needs those innings, and if his recent form has hardly earned them, his first four years in an England shirt did.
A man who deserves a pat on the back, rather than an arm round the shoulder, is Craig Kieswetter. 107 in only his third ODI confirms many a suspicion about him. The contrasting travails of these two adopted Englishmen has added interest to a highly-watchable series, which on paper may have seemed anything but.
So too has the opposition. Allied to England’s unanswered questions was a final reason to disobey my body and heed my early alarm call: I like watching Bangladesh. Like many an Englishman, I’ve had a soft spot for them since 18th June 2005, and can’t help admiring the way that they’ve dealt with numerous setbacks and frequent defeat since then. They rattle through the overs at the rate everyone is supposed to, boast one of the world’s leading players, clearly enjoy what they’re doing and are getting pretty good at it. The home crowd is endearingly enthusiastic, to the point where they sometimes appear to be watching a different game. Local boy Tamim Iqbal raised the roof every time he so much as sneezed this morning.
I haven’t seen Afghanistan play cricket, so am in no position to comment on them, but it seems that they possess unbridled enthusiasm and no little skill. Despite gaping weaknesses, the same can be said of Bangladesh, and they’re getting better. The test for Afghanistan will be to see if, after a few inevitable thumpings at the top table of international cricket, they can maintain the same positive approach shown this series by Bangladesh.
2 Comments »Charles Coventry’s fine deeds
By Will last year, mid-August, 4 Comments »
He sounds like a man from the Victorian era, but Charles Coventry wrote himself into the history books today with 194 – the equal-highest one-day score in history – for Zimbabwe. They still lost to Bangladesh, but what an effort. He looks like he should be fixing computers, not boshing bowlers.
Zimbabwe-Bangladesh encounters always intrigue me. They’re very much the bottom of the bottom, often little better than Associate nations, but this match was a corker by the looks of things.
4 Comments »Mighty, mighty Banglas
By Will 2 years ago, mid-October, 2 Comments »
In case you didn’t know, Bangladesh beat New Zealand yesterday. Well, walloped might be more accurate – by seven wickets with stacks of time to spare.
2 Comments »Brendon McCullum in a hurry
By Scott 3 years ago, at the end of December, 5 Comments »
How about this for a one-sided ODI game?
5 Comments »Cruel game for those on debut
By Ian 3 years ago, at the end of June, 13 Comments »
AFP
How bad must Malinda Warnapura be feeling? To get a Test golden duck is bad enough, but a golden duck on deboo, as Richie would say, against Bangladesh on a featherbed when your partner gets a ton must be crushing. He’s unlikely to bat again in this match and may not get another innings if Upul Tharanga returns from injury.
The only other deboo goldie I can remember was Alan Wells in 1995, caught Sherwin Campbell, bowled Curtly Ambrose. Again, most other batsmen did well on that track, including two hundreds (Lara and Hooper) and six others who made it to 80 and didn’t convert (four were out in the nervous 90s). Wells did at least make an unbeaten 3 in the second innings, but that was his lot.
I’m sure there were others?
13 Comments »Live chat: West Indies v Bangladesh, Super Eights, Barbados
By Mike 3 years ago, mid-April, 2 Comments »
It seems like Bangladesh have had a good World Cup after bashing a couple giants, but find themselves languishing at the footer of the Super Eights table. The West Indies have been highly disappointing in the second stanza having breezed through their pool grouping but they’re also stuck low on two points. As Dileep Premachandran over at CricInfo writes:
It will have escaped no one’s attention that West Indies are currently level on points with Bangladesh and Ireland, an unacceptable state of affairs in a region that dominated the game for nearly two decades.
It’s statement time. Brian Lara is in the final breath of his cricketing career and one might hope that the embattled West Indies could dig a couple specials out to end in a way he might deserve. Bangladesh can foil that and go a long way to secure themselves a final six finish. That would be a grand achievement for the nation.
Check the scorecard and leave your thoughts in the comments below.
2 Comments »Ireland beat Bangladesh
By Scott 3 years ago, mid-April, 4 Comments »
With all the moaning about how the 2007 World Cup is a bit of a farce, it has to be said that it’s greatest defenders are the actual players. There’s been some great cricket played, and not least by those of whom the least have been expected. Bangladesh have had some great moments but it was their turn to be the shock losers as Ireland dominated last night for another upset victory.
It is hard to remember now, but no one except Bob Simpson gave Sri Lanka much of a chance in 1996, Kenya surprised everyone by making the semi-finals in 2003 and in 2007 we’ve had the rise of Ireland and Bangladesh. The World Cup is becoming a platform for new nations to make their mark on the cricketing world.
And while the ICC gets a justified bucketing for its blunders, it must be given credit also for the way that it has given new nations the opportunity to show us what they have got. Hopefully, looking forward to the 2011 tournament, Ireland and Bangladesh will be able to consolidate their progress, and maybe a new nation will come on board and dazzle us from no-where.
4 Comments »England v Bangladesh, Super Eights, Barbados
By Will 3 years ago, mid-April, 17 Comments »
Do Bangladesh deserve the label minnows, or the tag of a “banana skin” any longer? India were first to trip up, then South Africa blindly faffed their way to defeat. And England, in such unconvincing form, are the next side to try and tame the Tigers.
Scorecard here. Chat away like the rantings fans that you are.
17 Comments »Bangladesh sink sloppy South Africa
By Will 3 years ago, at the start of April, 18 Comments »
Get in there! The Deshis are doing it. Rumours of infighting in the South African squad (Kallis was threatened to be moved down the order. He wasn’t happy about it. So he went out there, trying to smash it around and was less than amused when he got out.)
This is just what this doomed tournament needs. Check the scorecard out and leave your thoughts.
18 Comments »Bermuda vs Bangladesh, World Cup, Trinidad
By Scott 3 years ago, at the end of March, 1 Comment »
The World Cup group phase winds up today with this game. It’s become more important then first thought, but I’m still slightly surprised that the fixtures worked out with what was expected to be a minnows’ game to finish.
(Will: for those not in the know, if Bermuda win, India go through to the Super Eights!). Keep an eye on the scorecard, leave a comment or two and enjoy.
1 Comment »Bermuda gain a billion fans
By Will 3 years ago, at the end of March, 11 Comments »
Poor India. Poor, poor old India. As me Martin and Jenny covered West Indies’ comprehensive thrashing of Ireland, we had one eye (sometimes both) on India’s key encounter with Sri Lanka.
Now then. However much we try to remain unbiased, neutral and balanced cricket journalists, everyone has a favourite team or enjoys seeing one side struggle. India is one such team. Maybe it’s an unspoken competitiveness we have at Cricinfo between the London office and our guys in Bangalore, but there was no shortage of whooping when India were, well, whooped. Commiserations to Vasu, Sriram, George, Rajesh and co. out there, whose livers will be receiving a severe workout right now.
All is not lost, however. India simply need Bermuda to thrash Bangladesh. Unfortunately, that’s about as likely as Ricky Ponting never again uttering “aw, look” at a press conference. The best line came from Ryan at CaribbeanCricket who, moments after Sri Lanka won, said “Bermuda gain a billion fans”.
11 Comments »Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh; Zimbabwe vs Pakistan
By Scott 3 years ago, mid-March, 11 Comments »
Interesting games today- the winner of Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka will secure qualification. Even if Bangladesh lose today they are still well placed to go through. Meanwhile Zimbabwe will be their usual selves, but it is anyone’s guess as to what version of Pakistan will turn up today.
11 Comments »World Cup, third warm-ups: live discussion
By Will 3 years ago, mid-March, 5 Comments »
The penultimate day of warm-ups. Bangladesh and Scotland ought to be a good game. Bermuda v Zimbabwe…less so.
Bangladesh v Scotland
Three Ws Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados
Bermuda v Zimbabwe
Arnos Vale Ground, Kingstown, St Vincent
Canada v Ireland
Sir Frank Worrell Memorial Ground, St Augustine, Trinidad
Kenya v Netherlands
Trelawny Stadium, Jamaica
World Cup, second warm-ups: live discussion
By Will 3 years ago, at the start of March, 15 Comments »
More warm-ups today.
Australia v Zimbabwe
Arnos Vale Ground, Kingstown, St Vincent
Bangladesh v New Zealand
Three Ws Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados
Canada v Pakistan
Sir Frank Worrell Memorial Ground, St Augustine, Trinidad
India v Netherlands
Trelawny Stadium, Jamaica
For those in Britain, India’s match is being televised on Sky.
15 Comments »Not the Champion tournament it could have been
By Scott 4 years ago, at the start of October, 6 Comments »
The first ICC Champions Trophy was a speculative venture by the ICC, and perhaps one of its most successful. It was held in 1998, and the format was a simple, eight-team knockout totalling seven fixtures in Bangladesh. The aim of the tournament was to raise funds for cricket in that country and it was very successful in doing so.
Wisden’s Matthew Engel was told it was the most successful event ever held in Bangladesh since they had become independent, such was the impact.
The ICC, in their wisdom, decided to try again, holding a similar event in Kenya in 2000. This was notable for New Zealand’s first ever success in an event like this, and the general success of the event gave rise to various notions that this could be a useful biennial tournament.
However, since then, the event has been given a formal title – the ICC Champions Trophy – and by being incorporated into the ICC’s huge television deal with Rupert Murdoch’s GCC organisation, the Champions Trophy has lost its way. The early events were quick and easy jaunts to some new places for cricketers, but the last three events have been held in established cricket centres, as part of the regular circuit. However, it has failed to capture the imagination of the world cricket community or the playing fraternity. This year’s event, for example, is widely seen in Anglo-Australian cricketing circles as an unwanted distraction to the build up to the Ashes. For both sides, the Champions Trophy will hamper their proper preparation.
Moreover, since the 2006-07 season is finishing with the 2007 World Cup in the Caribbean, the rest of the cricket world is likely to view the Champions Trophy as little more then a warm-up to the main event; one where teams can be tweaked and game plans be finalised. It has blown way out of size for a tournament of this nature. The early events were very quick affairs. There are six ‘qualifying matches’ in 2006 – a far cry from the 1998 event, which had seven for the entire event. So all in all, the Champions Trophy has become a real orphan of the international cricket calendar, unloved and unwanted by the people involved in the game, foisted on them by thoughtless administrators.
For those of us that remember the two early success stories, this is a tragic waste.
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