Kolkata: Indian skipper, Virat Kohli before the start of the Hyderabad Test match against Bangladesh had underscored the importance of the latter playing more Test matches. Even a commentator while commentating for the just-concluded match seconded Kohli. It perhaps emanates from the fact that with experience you learn how to deal with adversities. A 208-run defeat to an invincible Indian team is a matter of worry for Bangladesh. But more than that, what the defeat exposes is an absence of maturity among Bangladeshi cricketers under crunch situations.
Watching skipper Mushfiqur Rahim throwing away his wicket to R Ashiwn at a stage when as captain he should have hung in, incurred the wrath of commentators like Sanjay Manjrekar, Ravi Shastri and Atahar Ali Khan. Rahim who scored a fighting hundred in the first innings was over exuberant against Ashwin in the second innings, but little did he realise that he was up against a bowler who has the distinction of being the fastest to reach the 250-wicket mark in Test matches.
Similarly, veteran Shakib al Hasan also was irresponsible enough to have taken the road to the dressing room in both the innings. Yet, Bangladesh deserves credit for taking the Test to the fifth day something which the Kiwis and Englishmen failed on some occasions against India recently.
The Bangladeshis showed tremendous fighting spirit in tackling a mighty opposition but to reiterate, lack of experience and maturity did them in. In recent times, Bangladesh lost to New Zealand away from home despite scoring 595 in the first innings of the Wellington Test. New Zealand conceded a first-innings lead to Rahim’s team, but bounced back with elan to romp home. In the second Test at Christchurch, it was a one-sided affair with the Kiwis clinching the series comfortably. Yes, lack of experience or to be precise, absence of perseverance is what is ailing Bangladesh cricket in the extended format of the game. Lets’ not forget, in its debut Test against India in Dhaka, Bangladesh amassed a total of 400 in its first innings only to collapse in the second to snatch defeat from the jaws of a respectable draw or a victory.
This is exactly where the International Cricket Council (ICC) should step in. Since making its Test debut against India in 2000/01, Bangladesh has played only 98 Tests in close to 17 years winning only 8 of them and losing 75. This certainly doesn’t do any good to the cause of the game in Bangladesh. Occasional flashes like in the home series against England last year are exceptional cases, but to carry that forward especially against tough sides abroad needs tremendous agility which the team lacks.
There is certainly no dearth of talents in the team and Bangladesh’s performance in ODIs is a proof. But when it comes to Test cricket, the agility recedes to the background and a good start doesn’t really transform into a glorious victory.
If we look at Zimbabwe, it could never be the side it should have been in Test matches, because of lack of exposure. Sri Lanka proved its worth and is a now a formidable side because it got the chances. There was a time when even India struggled against strong sides. But with experience of more Tests, the team automatically climbed up to the top of the Test ranking.
One hopes Bangladesh too gets its due, and in this context, teams like India and Pakistan should take the initiative in giving the country more bilateral Test series.