West Indies batsmen took full advantage of Bangladesh’s weak bowling attack, making a solid start to the rain-hit first Test in St Vincent on Friday.
Chris Gayle and Kraigg Braithwaite each slammed a fifty to help the home side reach 182-2 at tea on the first day as Bangladesh toiled on what looked like a solid batting pitch at Arnos Vale.
An early morning drizzling inspired Mushfiqur Rahim to bowl first on winning the toss but his decision was called into question immediately after Gayle took the strike and began playing his natural strokes.
Anyone familiar with the build-up to the Test match was left with surprise by the decision as Bangladesh hardly focused on their bowling before the series started.
With no Sakib al Hasan or Sohag Gazi around, the visitors were forced to rely on two debutants Taijul Islam and Shubhagoto Hom for tweaking the ball and their pace attack is not very experienced either.
Al-Amin Hossain was playing just his fourth Test while Rubel Hossain spent past few years mostly nursing his injuries, despite playing 19 Tests. In the absence of a quality bowler, Mushfiq openly spoke about his ambition of a draw, something rarely a Test skipper does.
If Mahmudullah and Shubhagoto are considered as batting all-rounders, Bangladesh literally filled their line-up with eight batsmen, which was another indication of their intention.
But when it was left to him to decide which way he wanted the match to proceed, Mushfiq did exactly the opposite.
His decision even left fast bowling great Collin Croft bemused.
‘If you take eight batsmen in your line-up, you are expected to bat first,’ Croft said while speaking to a group of reporters at the Arnos Vale press box. The weather is hotter than we all expected, so it would have been wiser if Bangladesh had batted first.’
Elson Crick, a director of West Indies Cricket Board, also has the same view.
‘Maybe, your captain thought the ball would move. But the movement is nowhere to be seen,’ Elson told New Age.
Bangladesh had their first success on the day when Shubhagoto had Gayle out leg-before for 64 after the lunch break. The umpire gave Gayle initially not out and Mushfiq thought for few seconds before calling for a review.
Hawkeye showed the ball was hitting off and middle stump, so Gayle had to leave after a promising start. Gayle, who was dropped by Rubel on 52, struck 10 fours and a six off Taijul.
Left-arm spinner Taijul had Kirk Edwards (10) caught by Momniul Haque for his first Test wicket, but Braithwaite continued the onslaught to remain 89 not out.
-With New Age input
