Bowlers are expected to fare better as the second round of matches of the Bangladesh Cricket League begins today at the BKSP, with more assistance expected from the wicket and with the benefit of having already adjusted to the red ball. BCB North Zone will play against Islami Bank East Zone at BKSP-2 and Walton Central Zone will take on Prime Bank South Zone at BKSP-3 in the last matches before the tournament gets halted when players join the national team camp.
The opening round matches provided an opportunity for batsman to exhibit their craftsmanship as they piled on six centuries – including a double-hundred by Shamsur Rahman – to dictate the terms in both contests, in which flat pitches offered hardly anything for the bowlers.
In addition to the non-responsive wickets, the bowlers struggled to adjust to the red ball and that contributed to the ordinary bowling performance, according to coaches and paceman.
‘I think it was difficult for them to adjust with the red ball,’ South Zone coach Khaled Mahmud told New Age on Friday.
‘Unlike other formats, you need to pick your rhythm in order to do well in the longer version, and that is where they failed.’
‘Coming to bowl with a red ball is perhaps the reason behind it.’
Mahmud, a Bangladesh Cricket Board director, also admitted that the wickets were too flat in the opening round.
‘The behaviour of the wicket might change from this round because probably the wickets of the first round matches were prepared hurriedly.’
Pacebowler Al Amin echoed the sentiment and was confident that the bowlers would be able to put on a better show from this round on.
We are playing with the red ball after a gap and naturally we paid the price,’ said Al Amin.
‘The two balls are different and so are the requirements to excel in both formats.’
‘There was nothing in the wickets, and along with that our inability to adjust to the red ball was also exposed.’
When asked whether this kind of wicket demoralised the bowlers, the tall and lanky pace bowler said that they were used to it.
‘In such a competition the batsmen always get the benefit as they play on a tailor-made pitch, but that is not new and we must accept that and look forward,’ said Al Amin.
The four-team competition will be halted after this round of matches for Sri Lanka’s Tour of Bangladesh from January 27, the Asia Cup in February-March, and the ICC World Twenty20 in March-April.
-With New Age input
