Bangladesh -India Day Night Pink Ball Test Match at Eden Gardens, Kolkata

Brief Score Card at Stumps Day One:

Bangladesh 106 all out in 33.3 overs ( Shadman Islam 29, Liton K Das 24, Naeem Hasan 19, Ishant Sharma 5/22, Umesh Yadav 3/29, Mohammad Shami 2/36), India 174/3 ( Virat Kohli 59*, Cheteswar Pujara 56, AjinkaRahane 23*, Rohit Sharma 21, Ebadat Hossain 2/ 61, Al Amin Hossain 1/49)

Pathetic looking helpless and hopeless Bangladesh shocked and awed at Pink Eden Gardens getting blown away for 106 in only 33.3 overs in less than two sessions. India overhauled and forged ahead by 68 runs by stumps scoring 174/3. Apprehension raised whether the match would even reach stumps of day three as Bangladesh looked pretty ordinary with the bat with no skill, technique and temperament for confronting lethal resurging Indian pace attack with pink SG ball.

Cricinfo says: “More legends watched live than Bangladesh scored runs. Two men went down with concussions. Ishant Sharma took his first home five –for in 12 years. Only the fourth time that fast bowlers took all 10 for India in India. Wriddhiman Saha gracefully overcame all the late movement and apparent visibility issues. Cheteswar Pujara and Virat Kohli then scored fifties to entertain the night-time crowd. Close to 50,000 turned up at Eden Gardens.”

We think the above eloquently summed up what happened at Eden Gardens at day one after the first ever day night test match in the sub continent commenced at the historic ground with the ringing of the bells by Bangladesh Prime Minster Sheikh Hasina and Chief Minister of Bangla Momta Banarjee. India fielded unchanged team. Bangladesh made two changes replacing Mehedi Meraz and Taijul with Naeem Hasan and Al Amin Hossain. The events in the game forced both Meraz and Taijul back into playing eleven as Liton K Das and Naeem Hasan struck on the head were declared unfit for suspected concussion.Neither team had any past experience of day night test cricket. Neither team had experience of playing with pink ball. The wicket and outfield looked lush green with grass cover. Bangladesh batted poorly at Indore after winning the toss and opting to bat. Mominul and Bangladesh learned no lesson. Again they opted to bat after winning the toss. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina flanked by BCB President Nazmul Hasan Papon eye witnessed the abject surrender of Bangladesh team to high quality pace bowling by Indian bowling trio Ishant Sharma( 5/22), Umesh Yadab (3/29)  and Mohammad Shami (2/36). The pink ball did not do much for the first 6 overs as Indian pacers were adjusting to the seam and shine of the ball. But once clueless Kayes was trapped LBW scoring 4 the one way pavilion directing procession started. Mominul, Mithun and Mushfique scored dreaded ducks. Mominul fell to an acrobatic slip catch by Rohit Sharma. Mithun and Mushfique were played on. Only Shadman braved the Indian attack for a while counter attacking. His 52 balls 29 was the saving grace during which he struck 5 boundaries. He too fell to a brilliant diving catch of Shaha off the bowling of Yadav. Bangladesh was reduced to 6/60 when Mahmudullah also fell to Sharma scoring only 6. The fate of the test was well and truly curbed out by supper time of day one as in Kolkata dusk comes a bit too early in November.

Another bright spark was brave and quality time Liton K Das stayed at the wicked. He played 5 quality strokes in his brief stay of 24. But he too got stuck in the forehead by a bouncer of Shami and had to leave the ground reporting lack of visibility. Later Liton was replaced by Meraj under concussion replacement rule. Naeem Hasan who actually came in the test as replacement of Meraz also got struck at the head as Bangladesh got bundled out scoring 106 in only 33.3 0vers. Bangladesh could not even last two sessions. Ishant was the peak of the bowlers bowling fast and accurate with 5/22. Yadav and Shami were ideal foils. Inept Bangladeshi batsmen looked ill equipped technically and mentally to contain and counter Indian Pace attack. Bangladesh decision of batting in unchartered territory boomeranged.  Only Shadman (29), Liton (24) and Naeem ( 19) could reach double figures. The remaing 8 batsmen together contributed only 20 with 4 scoring nought. Such was the pitiable plight for Bangladeshi batsmen.

India starting their response in the twilight also struggled a little bit coping with the movement of the ball and visibility. Prolific Mayank Agarwall fell to Al Amin trying to steer him past point. Meraj took a sharp catch. Rohit, the hero of Kolkata got a reprieve when Al Amin dropped a sitter off the bowling of Jayed. But Rohit failed to capitalise shouldering arms to a sharp in cutter of Ebadat getting out LBW. India was reduced to 43/2. Bangladesh could not press on as two quality Indian batsmen Pujara and Kohli applying themselves pulled them out of woods with a 94 runs 3rd wicket partnership. Pujara fell to Ebadat again but not before he scored yet another half century (55 off 105 deliveries). Pujara and Kohli showed how to bat in difficult conditions. Later Ajinka Rahane also amply demonstrated. Test batting is about patience and compassion. India at stumps was 174/3 with Kohli batting on 59 and Rahane on 23. Day two Indian batting would evidence how soon the curtain will be drawn of the torture of Bangladeshi cricket? Another humiliating defeat would embrace Bangladesh if batsmen fail to show character with back to the wall.

It may turn out that the pink ambience, the fervour and festivity would be remembered the only achievement if Bangladesh can fight back and extend the match a little longer. For that to happen Bangladesh bowlers and fielders have to restrict India below 300 and bat out of their skins. From what has already been seen the difference between India and Pacific is as wide as the Pacific Ocean and as deep as Atlantic. Bangladesh needs lots of doing for reformatting domestic cricket engaging right surgeons for open heart surgery of BCB.

BDST: 1148 HRS, NOV 23, 2019
SMS