DHAKA, Feb 21, 2020 (BSS)- With the country’s cricket hitting its lowest ebb following six straight Test defeats, Bangladesh aims to bring back the stability and stab off the losing-trend by winning the solitary Test against Zimbabwe.
Five of the Bangladesh last Test defeats came by the innings margin and
more preciously they couldn’t force the opponents in last three tests to bat
twice, prompting the critics to question about its test status.
The latest situation in Test cricket left the country’s cricket in dazed
state, creating an uncomfortable condition around the players.
With the one-of Test match being played between the two low ranked side
and on paper it might be a low profile series, for Bangladesh the stake is
quite high.
From the coach, captain to a junior member of the side Saif Hasan,
everyone just made it clear how high the stake is! Every time they got the
opportunity to speak that they want to win the Test by any cost.
“I think if we can win the match, the whole scenario will be changed,”
Captain Mominul Haque said.
“I’m not talking about the six straight test defeats, I am in fact talking
about the bad patch in which we are going through right at the moment. We
want to overcome it by winning the test against Zimbabwe.”
Bangladesh lost a staggering number of 89 matches in 118 tests they played
so far. Among the 89, they lost 43 matches by innings margin.
They have so far won 13 matches, six of which came against Zimbabwe.
Despite their upper-hand over Zimbabwe in the recent time, Bangladesh
didn’t want to take the visitors lightly.
“In International cricket every team is good. You can’t take anything for
granted. I count Zimbabwe as very good team,” Mominul said.
Head coach Russell Domingo said the players’ determination to win the Test
made him outright confident about the country’s future in this version of
cricket.
“Winning is of paramount importance. We do need to develop a Test culture.
The way we go about our preparations and schedule Test matches. I am going
into this Test as a coach more confident because we’ve been together four to
five days,” Domingo said.
“I’ve never had Tests where we have flown in to place, practice a day and
then play a Test match. The next schedule in Pakistan, we fly in, play a one-
dayer then practice and play a Test match so no serious Test team has
scheduling like that and we’ve got to try and change that. It’s a cultural
thing and we need to put a lot more attention on Test matches.”
Domingo believes if the players keep that determination, Bangladesh can
usher a new dawn in Test format.
“I’m very impressed with the group of players we have at the moment. The
way they are training, the way they are catching and their discipline in the
nets, there seems to be a big desire to do well in Tests. I think that’s a
start,” he concluded.