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Kruif speaks of Aussie ambition

Admin — Sat, 29 Aug 2015 04:35:59 +0000

Bangladesh’s head coach Lodewijk de Kruif has warned Australia that the South Asians will be visiting to Perth for their September 3 World Cup qualifiers ready for action.
His Bengal Tigers recovered from a 3-1 home loss to Kyrgyzstan on June 11 to draw 1-1 in Tajikistan five days later and de Kruif is looking forward to a first meeting with the reigning Asian champions.
‘Facing the number one team in Asia will force us to be careful,’ the Dutch coach told www.socceroos.com.au.
‘They have great players with experience in big leagues. We respect them but we will not hide. This is absolutely no tourist trip.
‘All my players are full professionals and most became big stars in the last three years. We have good quality players. I expect lots of learning moments, a great atmosphere and a massive experience for my players.’
The coach concedes that finishing in the top two and trying to get to the final round of qualification is unlikely but wants to finish as high as possible in Group B.
After all, there is a chance to qualify for the 2019 AFC Asian Cup.
‘Before we started the qualifiers I was focused on third place. It’s a high target but when your target is zero then don’t play in professional sport.’
There are still headaches, though. The team’s Achilles heel is a tendency to concede late goals. It happened at home to Tajikistan in June. It has been something that de Kruif has complained about on plenty of occasions.
‘It’s a concentration problem. If players are used to playing at a high international level then they can he play ninety minutes with full concentration and focus.’
De Kruif came to Dhaka in 2013 and has been trying to change the way the team play.
‘When I came in less than three years ago, Bangladesh was playing an old English style with long balls and from there fighting for the second ball to see what will happen.
‘There were big spaces between the lines when they had the ball and when the opponent had the ball and no clear organisation in the team’s tactical discipline.
‘We worked on that with some Dutch style influences and we created our own game. Let’s say it’s the only style I can lecture, that’s where I was brought up. My players adapted to the style very well, there’s always work to do but up until now I am satisfied.’
For Bangladesh, the game, big though it undoubtedly is, is another step on the road marked ‘development’ and a valuable look around the home of one of Asia’s biggest and best.
‘Football is very alive in Bangladesh. We have a population of 180 million and there are many talents. We just have to find them, give them a good football education with educated coaches.
‘Create academies over the country open for different age categories. Organize youth leagues and tournaments and make a connection to school football. This way a good foundation is guaranteed.
‘Step by step we are making a great progression. I want to make Bangladesh a stronger national team and professionalize all levels of football.’
And the game is not only a chance for Bangladesh to play the Asian champions in a competitive game, it is also a chance for the Dutch boss to show locals what he is capable of.
‘It’s a fighting job to survive in Bangladesh but I like it. I am interested to work in Australia. With my experience, education and background I expect to fit in the Australian system perfectly.’

-With New Age input

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Aussies won’t be easy for Tigers

Admin — Fri, 28 Aug 2015 03:39:10 +0000

Australia may enter a transitional phase when they visit Bangladesh in October for two-Test series, but that gives the hosts no guarantee of success, chief selector Faruk Ahmed warned on Thursday.
Bangladesh, who are in great form of late, will fancy their chances against Australia at home after a successful run against Pakistan, India and South Africa.The visitor will arrive on September 28 under new captain Steven Smith with a new-look squad that is sure to miss some seasoned players.
While Michael Clarke and opener Chris Rodgers have retired, wicketkeeper Brad Haddin and all-rounder Shane Watson are also unlikely to make the team.
Their situation is almost similar to Pakistan, who began their life after the World Cup in Bangladesh with Azhar Ali taking the charge of one-day international side from Misbah-ul Haque.
Bangladesh took the full advantage to thrash the inexperienced side 3-0 in ODIs, their first series win over Pakistan.
Although the format is different, yet many believe that the hosts may take the similar advantage against Aussies, beaten in the recent Ashes to England by 3-2.
Faruk was not in that league, however.
‘They are struggling. But you cannot write off Australia team,’ Faruk said speaking to reporters in Mirpur.
‘They have a very good structure. Even their new players are so seasoned to play at the international level that you cannot find in any other team.
‘Even if they come with new players, I don’t think that will create any difference in their strength.’
Faruk was also very pragmatic about the record and prospects of the Tigers whose one-day record has been phenomenal recently but Test record is not that good.
‘If you see our Test statistics, it’s not very enviable.’ said Faruk.
‘It’s true that we are playing good cricket. But to do well in Test we need to wait for a long period, which is what we are working on.
‘You cannot do well sporadically in Tests. It needs time,’ he added.
Faruk however was optimistic about the series and he believed that with the current form and the confidence the team can do well in the forthcoming series.
‘Bangladesh team is in good a position. We have got few experienced player and with the help of them I think our team has the ability to do well against Australia,’ said Faruk.

-With New Age input

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Tigers put up a fight

Admin — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 09:29:17 +0000

Australia take series 3-0
Though there was some sting from the 3-0 series loss and Australia’s gargantuan score yesterday, it hardly dampened the mood of Imrul Kayes, Shahriar Nafees and Mahmudullah as the trio decided to give coach Jamie Siddons an enjoyable farewell.
To make it a somewhat memorable last game in charge for Siddons, one of his protégé, Kayes, struck a remarkable 93 while Riyad, someone he has always backed, struck a classy unbeaten 68 batting at four for the first time in his career (and hopefully not his last).
The Tigers ended at 295-6 in 50 overs after Australia threatened to make a mockery of Bangladesh by making 361-5, losing the game by 66 runs. It was the third score of over 350 in less than a year (and sixth overall) against the Tigers as Michael Hussey struck a century true to his character in a continued display of batting belligerence.
Then it was the turn of Tigers opener Imrul who tore into the Australian attack getting a cue from his partner Tamim Iqbal, who made a 17-ball 32. After his brief flurry was ended by a Mitchell Johnson yorker, Imrul and Shahriar Nafees kept up the run-rate with some fine shots, particularly Imrul’s fifth and sixth boundaries that came off consecutive Watson deliveries.
First Imrul unfurled a straight drive and followed it up with a punch through the covers. After batting woefully for a 41-ball 5 in the last game he showed a violent streak with a slogged six over mid-wicket. But his flashed drive at a wide James Pattinson ended his innings for 93, Imrul missing his second ODI hundred.
It also gave the young paceman his first international wicket and ended a 136-run second wicket stand, Bangladesh’s highest ever against Australia. Nafees struck his second successive half-century but skied one to Watson off Johnson for an 86-ball 60 that had four boundaries.
Alok Kapali’s return to the batting crease for the Tigers since September 2008 was completely overshadowed by Riyad’s 61-ball knock (five fours and two sixes) that showed his growing temperament as he helped Bangladesh make their highest ODI score against Australia.
Earlier it was Hussey’s third one-day hundred as he hammered a typically breezy 91-ball 108. The nine boundaries and two sixes came while he rebuild and also lead the charge in the last ten overs; Hussey, Mitchell Johnson and John Hastings hammered 94 runs.
Hussey also survived a dropped catch when he was on 94, the ball bursting through Shakib’s hands in the 48th over.
The last ten almost mirrored Australia’s start after they decided to bat first. Shane Watson began where he left off in the second ODI as he smashed 72 off only 40 balls with eleven boundaries and three sixes.
Mashrafe Bin Mortaza bore the brunt of the onslaught, giving away 43 runs off his four overs as Shakib surprisingly decided to let the two paceman face the music and not introduce spinners early. But Mashrafe recovered somewhat, picking up three wickets later on (including his 150th, that of Callum Ferguson) while Abdur Razzak also took three.

Courtesy of The Daily Star

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‘Be patient’

Admin — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 09:27:06 +0000

Siddons bids emotional goodbye
The final match in a long and winding season for Bangladesh cricket could describe coach Jamie Siddons’s tenure in a microcosm.
In certain parts of the game, Bangladesh were brilliant; Imrul Kayes’s belligerent 93, almost as good an innings as played by Michael Hussey on the day. At certain other moments though, they were abysmal too, a fact best highlighted by a bowling performance that was taken to the cleaners by Shane Watson, Ricky Ponting and later Michael Hussey.
In the end, it was an apt metaphor for an inconsistent three-and-a-half years spent under the Australian, the zenith of which was the series whitewash over New Zealand last year, and the nadir of which was the two shocking collapses against West Indies and South Africa in the World Cup, less than a month ago.
Unpredictability and a constant struggle to meet the demands of an expectant public had marked the tenure of the shaven-headed Siddons, and in his final press conference the Australian left behind a simple message: “Be patient with your players.
“These are all young guys, 22-23 years old at best and the best thing we can do is support them during their down times,” said Siddons.
He drew references to the dark days of March when two consecutive batting collapses on the biggest stage of them all had left the public and the press distraught, and perversely perhaps, led to his own demise as a coach.
“These players need the support of their fans and their press to get ahead. During those two games, all you did was criticise, while it was left only to me to pick up the players.
“So be supportive,” he insisted.
Siddons held his own quite well at the press conference and insisted that the team had achieved much of what he had thought they could in his three-and-a-half-year tenure. He was also quick to mention the three high points that marked the legacy of his tenure.
“We have the best all-rounder in the world in Shakib Al Hasan, and he has been at that stage for two years now. We have Tamim Iqbal in the team and we have Abdur Razzak, who is also one of the top ten bowlers in the world,” he said.
Despite admitting that he had not always had it his own way with team selections, Siddons insisted that these were the best 15 players in the country.
“My advice to whoever comes in next will be to stick to this group of players. I feel that if we can stick to this group for the next four years then it will be something very nice for Bangladesh cricket,” said Siddons.
But he did point a finger to an apparent lack of infrastructure.
“What needs to be ensured now is that the next batch of Tamims and Shakibs come into the team and perhaps the question needs to be asked whether we have the right kind of infrastructure for that to happen,” he said.
The Australian freely admitted that he would have liked to stay on as coach, and it was a view backed by Shakib.
In the end, the wider public will probably remember Siddons’s tenure bitterly for 58 and 78, but that would be quite unfair on a man who has done almost as much for Bangladesh cricket as his predecessor Dav Whatmore.
It was certainly no Indian Summer, but as Siddons himself said in the final reckoning, it was a good thing, and “all good things must come to an end.”

Courtesy of The Daily Star

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Bowling now the biggest agony

Admin — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 07:57:42 +0000

Australia have severely dented the pride of Bangladeshi bowlers and fielders after they humiliated them in all possible manners in the three-match series that ended on Wednesday.
With two convincing wins earlier, Australian have given ample scope to raise questions over the effectiveness of our bowling attack when they posted 361-8 on Wednesday.
In the first match, Bangladesh somehow managed to keep them below 300, but Australia treated them in a ruthless manner in the second and third games with Shane Watson leading the way.
Watson struck them for a world record 15 sixes in the second one-dayer and in the third game he hit them with equal disdain.
Watson had only 230 runs to chase in the second game, so he had to stop on 185 off 96 balls, but on Wednesday only sky was the limit for the Australian vice-captain.
Bangladesh should thank their luck that they somehow managed to get rid of him for 72 off 40 balls, otherwise it looked like he would take Australia to 500-plus total this time.
At the end of innings Australia made only 361-8, but it was no less a humiliation for them as they have never conceded so many runs in a home game, apart from the World Cup opener against India.
At times it was said that Bangladesh’s spin attack was world class and it had been a major threat for any side from outside the Indian subcontinent, especially on home soil.
True the spinners led Bangladesh to 4-0 win against New Zealand and also had Zimbabwe on their toes before the World Cup. England also struggled against them in the World Cup, making the assessment almost into a myth.
But Australia showed if the batting side have some quality Bangladeshi spinners can never be a threat and they hardly know where to land the ball if put under pressure.
And the fast bowlers are also nothing better. Shafiul Islam is being considered as Bangladesh’s best fast bowling option in current form, but skipper Sakib al Hasan did not dare to bowl him for more than two overs in the second one-dayer.
Sakib had little choice on Wednesday and bowled him eight overs in which the paceman conceded as many as 77 runs.
Making a comeback in the side Mashrafee bin Muratza bowled well in patches and with his three wickets he became only second Bangladeshi bowler after Abdur Razzak to take 150 wicket in one-day internationals.
But he too gave away 80 runs in his nine overs, which made it most expensive bowling figures in his career.
Throughout the World Cup, Bangladesh cried only for their batting and in less than two weeks after the tournament ended, it is now the bowling that is giving them the maximum pain.
Sadly for them, they were also let down by their fielding. Watson were given two reprieves in the second one-dayer which could have made his world record innings into an ordinary one.
And they also dropped at least two catches on Wednesday. Mike Hussey was the supreme beneficiary, getting a century after none other than skipper Sakib dropped him on 95.

Courtesy of New Age

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Bangladesh batsmen gain some lost pride

Admin — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 07:56:42 +0000

Dhaka: Bangladesh batsmen showed great gusto to end the three-match Zoom Ultra ODI series on a high note at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on Wednesday. On the day of Jamie Siddons’s last match as Bangladeshi coach, the batsmen responded with ultra aggressiveness to match up with Australian aggression before losing the match by 66 runs as they put up a total of 295 for six in response of Australia’s imposing 361 for eight.
It was Bangladesh’s highest run against Australia and it could make them happy indeed after having a meek surrender in the first two matches.
Sweeping the series by a clean margin, Michael Clarke also started his captaincy on a positive note. Shane Watson, the vice-captain of the side, was adjudged man of the series.
Mike Hussey was at his pinnacle, scoring 108 runs off 91 balls that featured nine fours and two sixes. Watson’s brutal 72 off 40 in a reminiscent of the second ODI was the catalyst to set the ball rolling in Australia’s favour. Former and incumbent skipper duo Ponting and Clarke’s 47 runs each and Johnson’s 24 ball-41 runs cameo helped to propel Australia into the stratosphere.
However, opener Imrul Kayes was the key figure in chasing the daunting total with an impressive 95 ball-93 runs knock which was followed by Tamim plundering the visitors to all corners of the stadium.
Tamim set of on a fiery start when smashed Mitchell Johnson for 10 runs of his first over. Kayes matched with his partner’s aggression, clubbing the new ball bowler John Hasting, who ha taken Brett Lee’s place. However, when Tamim was unable to resist a Johnson yorker, leaving the ground with a 17 ball-32 runs knock, Kayes with the alliance of Shahriar Nafees frustrated Australia with their gritty resistance.
While Kayes found the gaps with ease, Nafees was bit sluggish but yet he kept his wicket intact against Australian bowling which lacked penetration.
In the process the duo frustrated the Australians, leaving skipper Michael Clarke scratching his head till 31 overs. In the meantime, they shared 136 runs which ended as Kayes edged the debutant bowler Pattinson to a catch behind the wicket. During his 93 runs knock, he clobbered 10 fours and two sixes. Losing his partner, Nafees lost the momentum as he top-edged Johnson to sacrifice his wicket at 60.
Later Bangladesh saw a flurry of wickets tumbling with Mushfiqur Rahim and Shakib Al Hasan departing in a quick succession before Mahmuduallha Ryad and Alok Kapali came up with further gritty resistance. Bangladesh, however, played for the pride only as the match was virtually out of control. Kapali, who played his first game after two and half years could make only 13. But Ryad played some magnificent shots all around the stadium to earn his fifth half-century. He remained unbeaten on 68 off 61 balls that featured five fours and two sixes. It was his highest ODI knock. Johnson took three wickets while Watson took two.

Courtesy of The Independent

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Champs gone

Admin — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 04:11:27 +0000

India set up semis with Pakistan
Yuvraj Singh smashed an unbeaten half-century under pressure as India dispatched defending champions Australia from the World Cup with a five-wicket win at Ahmedabad yesterday. Their victory set up a dream semifinal against archrivals Pakistan at Mohali on March 30.
It had looked to be slipping away from the hosts when captain MS Dhoni perished to a spectacular catch at point by Michael Clarke. At that point, the home side were on the verge of exiting their own party, with 74 runs still needed off 77 deliveries with only five wickets in hand.
But Yuvraj and Suresh Raina took the fight to the Aussie pace attack to take India home with 14 balls to spare. Yuvraj remained unbeaten with 57 off 65 balls while Raina played the perfect foil at the other end with an unbeaten 34. It was Yuvraj’s fourth fifty in the tournament. The southpaw, who has been terrific in the tournament so far, struck eight boundaries while a cool and collected Raina, who hit a massive six off Brett Lee to end Australia’s chance of a comeback, also hit a couple of boundaries.
It was Australia’s second successive defeat and the most painful after their record unbeaten run of 34 undefeated World Cup matches. It also ended Ricky Ponting’s dream of being the only man to win the World Cup as captain thrice, despite a valiant century.
While the defeat effectively ended Ponting’s Cup career, his long-time rival Sachin Tendulkar is still in the hunt for a maiden World Cup trophy. The legend missed out on his much-anticipated hundredth international century, igniting hopes of a dream quarterfinal century with a well-compiled 53 before being caught behind off speedster Shaun Tait with the score on 94 for two.
AFP adds, Ponting scored his first international century in over a year as the champions put up 260 for six.
The star batsman’s 104 was his first hundred in 39 international innings since he made 106 against the West Indies in a one-day international in Brisbane last year.
Ponting, who’d managed just 102 runs at 20.4 in five previous innings this tournament, had come into the match amidst reports he could be quitting international cricket completely after the World Cup.
However, the 36-year-old Tasmanian demonstrated his enduring class in a 118-ball innings featuring one six and seven fours.
He was out late when he reverse-swept Ravichandran Ashwin straight to Zaheer Khan at short third man.
David Hussey, recalled in place of the dropped Steven Smith, made a useful 38 not out and helped Ponting add 55 for the sixth wicket after Michael Clarke, Michael Hussey and Cameron White all fell cheaply.
Back-up spinners Ashwin and Yuvraj Singh took four wickets between them with left-arm quick Zaheer taking the other two wickets.
But lead off-spinner Harbhajan Singh’s 10-wicketless overs cost 50 runs.
Ponting survived lbw appeals on 86 from Zaheer Khan and on 91 from old adversary Harbhajan, a particularly strong shout.
But as India had used up both their reviews, there was no comeback against the umpires’ not out verdicts
Together with Haddin, Ponting shared a second-wicket stand of 70.
Australia, after winning the toss and making India field in the heat of the day, got off to a steady start through openers Shane Watson and Haddin.
But a change of ends for Ashwin had them roaring again when he bowled Watson for 25 after the all-rounder was beaten by the turn as he attempted a violent slog-sweep.
Soon after Ponting came to the crease he appeared to exchange words with Harbhajan before umpire Ian Gould intervened.
Wicketkeeper Haddin completed a 57-ball fifty by sweetly striking Munaf Patel through midwicket for his sixth four.

Courtesy of The Daily Star

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Struggling Aussies face knock-out clash with India

Admin — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 09:36:01 +0000

The Sydney Morning Herald
Australia will fly from Sri Lanka to India facing arguably the most daunting challenge of the cricket World Cup: beating India in a knock-out quarter-final on its own turf.
India’s stuttering victory over the West Indies overnight gave it a second-placed finish in group B, ensuring it would be drawn against a fellow tournament heavyweight in the quarter-finals at Ahmedbad.
The day-night match will be played on Thursday at Ahmedabad’s Sardar Patel Gujarat Stadium.
While Australia will be going into the match on the back of its historic loss to Pakistan – historic because it ended its record unbeaten streak at the tournament at 34 – India’s form is not entirely robust. It lost 9-29 against South Africa to squander a superb start, while its lower-order batting was similarly brittle against the West Indies, losing 7-50.
If Australia, the underdog despite winning the past three World Cups, does beat India it will be arguably on the easier side of the draw and will face either Pakistan or the West Indies for a berth in the final.
In the other quarter-finals, Sri Lanka will host England in Colombo on Saturday while the other two matches will be held in the neutral location of Dhaka in Bangladesh: Pakistan and the West Indies on Wednesday and then New Zealand and South Africa on Friday.
After the four-wicket loss to Pakistan on Saturday night Australia captain Ricky Ponting said it was crucial that the team learn from its blunders and bounce back immediately.
“I don’t think the loss will hurt us at all. I know for a fact the guys haven’t been thinking about the winning streak at all, because it hasn’t been mentioned around our group or our change-rooms or meetings or anything.
“I think the fact that we’ve played a good Pakistan team and we’ve come up short will get all the guys thinking just exactly what they need to be thinking about and the way they need to play to win World Cup games,” Ponting said.
“We found ourselves in some tough situations [against Pakistan] and we weren’t good enough to get out of them. We have to learn from that, and we have to learn from that quickly, because if we play India in Ahmedabad then you can guarantee there’s going to be the same situations are going to pop up again, and we’ll have to handle them a whole lot better than we did [against Pakistan].”
The Australian squad is due to arrive in Ahmedabad just before midnight Australian-time.
QUARTER-FINALS
Wed 23 Mar: Pakistan v West Indies at Dhaka, Bangladesh (match C)
Thu 24 Mar: India v Australia at Ahmedabad, India (match E)
Fri 25 Mar: New Zealand v South Africa at Dhaka, Bangladesh (match F)
Sat 26 Mar: Sri Lanka v England at Colombo, Sri Lanka (match D)
SEMI-FINALS
Tue 29 Mar: Winner D v Winner F at Colombo, Sri Lanka
Wed 30 Mar: Winner C v Winner E at Mohali, India
FINAL
Sat 02 Apr: at Mumbai, India.

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Australia to tour Bangladesh after World Cup

Admin — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 02:51:49 +0000

Australia are all set to tour Bangladesh right after the World Cup as they are due in the capital on April 4 to play three one-day games. But the home side could be without their backroom staff.
The four-time world champions will play a practice match on April 7 at the Fatullah Cricket Stadium before they play all three ODIs at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur on April 9, 11, and 13.
With the tour so soon after the World Cup and with the contracts of most of the Tigers’ coaching staff expiring at the end of March, the onus will be on the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) to settle the issue. Julien Fountain (fielding coach), Ian Pont (bowling coach), Grant Luden (trainer) and Michael Henry (physio) are all contracted till March 31. When asked of the board’s decision, media committee chairman Jalal Younus said that the discussions would begin in a few days.
“Since Australia are arriving on March 4, we will negotiate with them for a long-term contract and it will be done very soon. This was proposed by the technical committee and it will be approved by the board,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Bangla-desh A team will tour South Africa for three weeks to play two four-day games and three one-dayers against their counterparts. The team will set off on April 4 and return on April 23.

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