The way Bangladesh played so far in the test it seems that BCB sent a group of lambs for the slaughterhouse. At stumps on day two of the first test of India Bangladesh series home team finishing at 493/6 is in total control. This test looks like finishing on the third day. Bangladesh is poised for yet another innings defeat within three days of a test match. Clueless Bangladesh winning the toss and opting to bat were bundled out for paltry 150 in the first innings. Indian opener Maynak Agarwall alone scored a brilliant punishing 243. Strong India appeared with five regular bowlers, three quality pacers and two top spinners. Bangladesh against a formidable Indian batting line up fielded 4 main stream bowlers and that too included an inexperienced pace bowler. Each of the four conceded over 100 runs. Bangladesh went to India with barely any preparation .BCB even could not negotiate a practice match before the test. A new captain was given charge and during the man slaughtering by India batsmen senior players Mushfique or Mahmudullah were not seen around Mominul.
In modern day cricket it is not an excuse that top two or three players are not in the team for different reasons. There must be enough quality players in the pipeline to stand bye. Question what the hell the tall taking BCB has been doing?
The test series has already become a contest of two grossly uneven sides, a complete mismatch. Wicket had no venom, little pace, little bounce and little spin. But even that proved too big to poor quality sub standard batting by Bangladesh team. Bangladesh huffed and puffed on day one wicket. Only Mushfique scored 43, Mominul 37 and Liton 21. But these three even failed to kick on. 7 of the 11 batsmen could not even reach double figure. There was no quality, character or planning in Bangladesh batting. It was short of abject surrender. Shami (3/27) Sharma (2/20) and Yadav (2/47) looked unplayable for inept Bangladesh batsmen. We cannot imagine why Bangladesh could not pick some senior players scoring consistently in Domestic cricket at least for the test series. It looked like lambs are sent to slaughterhouse. Indian bowlers toyed with Bangladesh batsmen. The team batting gave impression that they were walking through an active volcano. No technique, no skill, no temperament, no patience and no composure. The lack of experience of playing longer version cricket was clearly evident. Bangladesh innings lasted only 58.3 overs.
India responded a bit shakily with only real test quality bowler on grassy wicket Abu Jayed dismissing prolific Rohit very early. He could have got the wicket of double centurion Agarwall also if Imrul Kayes in the slips did not drop a dolly. India reached 86/1 at stumps of day one. The fate of the match was well curbed out. On day two it was lamb slaughtering at Indore . Agarwall and Pujara kept the tempo going till Jayed in a great outburst got rid of Pujara and Kohli off successive overs . Pujara and Agarwall set the foundation with 91 runs in the second wicket . Kohli scored a second ball duck. This was the only good spell of Bangladesh over the entire two days of the match. Rahane joined well set Agarwall .The two plundered poor Bangladesh bowling mercilessly . The limited capacity Bangladesh attack was shredded into pieces. Balls kept flowing across the boundary and over the ropes. The 4th wicket partnership produced 190 runs when a bit casual Rahane failed to convert his brilliant innings of 86 into a triple figure. Jayed got his 4th . Among the ruins of Bangladesh he grabbed wickets of Rohit , Pujara , Kohli and Rahane when all his partners toiled and sweated . Agarwall butchered pathetic Bangladesh bowling savaging 28 fours and 8 sixes . His spectacular 243 possibly pleased Indian Maestro SM Gavaskar whose highest score of 237 he eclipsed in the process. Jadeja was promoted above Wriddhiman Shaha. He responded well with a flamboyant unbeaten 60. India finished with 493/6 which is 343 runs ahead . Possibly Kohli would declare early tomorrow. Bangladesh would do well if they can survive day three and avoid at least the humiliation of yet another Innings defeat within three days. The only consolation of Bangladesh was brilliant seam bowling of Jayed. He had little or no support from the other end.
This Bangladesh team is no match for formidable India. This would even struggle against any Ranji Trophy team of India.
BCB president though said Bangladesh would play better than even South Africa in tests. He must realize what a fools paradise he is living with a bunch of unprofessional cricket administrators.
BDST: 2150 HRS, NOV 15, 2019
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