BSP-27 Domingo laments lack of Test matches for Bangladesh

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ZCZC

BSP-27

CRICKET-DOMINGO-REGRET

Domingo laments lack of Test matches for Bangladesh

CHATTOGRAM, Feb 6, 2021 (BSS) – Bangladesh head coach Russell
Domingo lamented for the dearth of Test matches, saying that it
actually resisted the country’s growth as a proper Test cricketing
nation.

The Tigers though of late had learnt to win the Test at home
condition that came at the expense of unleashing a designed wicket for
the spinners. But they still remain vulnerable in the foreign
condition.

Bangladesh so far played 119 Tests and lost 89, amongst which 43
came at the innings margin-a stat proved their sheer susceptibility at
the longer version format.

“We really want to focus on our Test cricket. We want to improve.
We know our performances haven’t been good away from home,” Domingo
said here today.

Domingo argued that while some of the nation got a huge number of
Test matches in World Test Championship, Bangladesh faces
discrimination.

“In saying that, this team needs to play more Tests. I look at some
teams have played 16-17 Tests in the WTC, and I think we have played
three. So it is very difficult to get some form, consistency and style
of play when you are playing three or four Tests per year,” he added.

“It is a double-edged sword because the more we play, the better we
will become. Hopefully our performances can improve.”

In the Test against West Indies, Bangladesh formed a four-pronged
spin attack, keeping just one pacer in Mustafizur Rahman in the team.

Such move is never helpful to be grown as a proper Test nation,
experts earlier said.

But Domingo expressed his disappointment over the wicket, saying
that the pitch was extremely unhelpful for the pacers.

“I am always one to try to get fast bowlers into the side. Very
difficult on a wicket like this though. That’s the challenge,” he
remarked.

“If we look at the West Indies bowling attack, they’ve got two very
experienced fast bowlers in Kemar Roach and Shannon Gabriel. Maybe
they got three wickets for 230 runs in this Test. This wicket is very
tough for fast bowling. No pace, not much bounce. We have to consider
those facts when we are playing in Bangladesh,” Domingo pointed out.

Domingo also informed that they take decision on the availability of
Shakib Al Hasan in the next Test in Dhaka within a couple of days.

Shakib left the ground on day two after suffering a thigh injury and
didn’t comeback into the match.

“He has got bit of a thigh strain. He has been having treatment for
the last day or two. There’ll be a decision made in the next couple of
days about his availability for the next Test. Nothing is confirmed
yet. We are still giving him a little bit of time to see how it gets
on,” he said,

The head coach also showered praise on captain Mominul’s excellent
115, which set West Indies an improbable target of 395 to win the
Test.

“He (Mominul) has been fantastic. He has back-to-back hundreds. In
the last Test in February last year, he got a hundred against Zimbabwe
in Dhaka. He has backed it up with another good hundred today. He has
set the game really well for us, so we are very pleased with the way
he is playing at the moment,” he concluded.

BSS/SMP/MRU/1940hrs