Bangladesh were left kicking their backs after they went into the first Test against Zimbabwe on Wednesday with just two pace bowlers despite a greenish wicket at the Harare Sports Club.
This was viewed as a defensive move in a Test match that they were expected to win against a side considered as rank outsiders despite playing at home.Barely a month ago on a similarly green wicket in Colombo, Bangladesh fielded three pace bowlers against a tougher opponent in Sri Lanka, who were in a desperate situation.
While nobody had expected Bangladesh to beat Sri Lanka, the selection was still praised as it gave a positive statement of Bangladesh’s intent having already drawn the first Test of the series.
Bangladesh’s decision had also been vindicated when the pacers took four wickets for 69 runs to put Sri Lanka under pressure before Kumar Sangakkara and Dinesh Chandimal had bailed out the home side.
The situation in Harare is different to the one in Colombo as Bangladesh went to Zimbabwe as favourites, hoping to win a Test match for the first time in four years.
It was expected Zimbabwe would offer Bangladesh a seaming wicket knowing that the Tigers’ strength lies in spin bowling with pace being their one major weakness.
The Tigers too realised it which was evident in their decision to bowl first after winning the toss. Robiul Islam bowled with his heart out to take two wickets in the opening session, giving Bangladesh a positive start to the game.
Rubel Hossain maintained the pressure from the other end without allowing Zimbabwe to open up. But lack of options kept skipper Mushfiqur Rahim handicapped as he had no third seamer to use.
As a result, Mushfiq had to give the ball to Nasir Hossain who bowled gentle medium pace to give the strike bowlers some break. Mushfiq had to turn to his spinner sooner than he would have preferred.
Sohag Gazi and Enamul Haque Jr hardly posed any threat on a first day track which offered no serious assistance to them to exploit and Zimbabwe took the full benefit.
Enamul still generated some turn but also bowled some loose deliveries which allowed the Zimbabwean batsmen to settle down to post a promising total at the stumps after an initial jittery.
Bangladesh’s decision to pack the line-up with seven batsmen can also be debated given the strength of Zimbabwe’s bowling which has no Rangana Herath or Tino Best, their chief tormentors in the previous two Tests series, respectively against Sri Lanka and West Indies.
It was being argued that vice-captain Mahmudullah could have been easily overlooked for a third seamer, preferably Sajidul Islam, considering the kind of performance he had in Sri Lanka.
Sajidul, a left-arm pacer, whose main strength is swing, could have added an extra variation in the attack which would have been effective in the kind of pitch that they were offered.
newagebd
-With New Age input
