[Match Thread] Bangladesh v Zimbabwe : 1st Test, Sylhet

[jaybro]

Looking at the dismissals it was Williams & Hami who played the worst shots 'reverse sweeps' FFS after they both played with great patience. I more angry with those two then Raza & BT

[Kriterion_BD]

I disagree with the above - when we were batting there was still 2-3 days of play remaining. There was absolutely no impetus at that stage to play in an attacking manner. Wicket retention should have been the order of the day... keep BD in the field for a long, long time and accumulate in the process.

I disagree with your disagreement for the following reason. There is very little justification to bat defensively (ie for a draw) when you are leading by 140 on the 2nd day of a 5 day Test. Even if this was a 4 day Test, it would still be a defeatist mindset.

If the wicket was a minefield, sure. But I don't see a reason to engage in a blockathon. ZIM needed a target of 300+ and it doesn't matter how quickly or slowly its achieved. However if you hit 10 sixes, you've guaranteed that you've scored 60 runs. But if you attempt to play out 200 balls, is there a guarantee that you will score 60 before getting out? The value of couter-attacking should not be zero just because its a Test match. There is a time and place for everything. There may yet come a time in this series when Taylor and Raza will need to undertake a blockathon.

Instead we seemed to blaze away and now there's no time pressure on BD at all. Then can go at under 2 an over and get home comfortably... basically they just need a couple of guys to bat like Moor did and they'll win. No risk necessary.

At the time Taylor and Raza were batting, there were around 250 overs left in the game. Lets do some math to illustrate:

As it stands now BD need 295 from 180 overs. That is 1.67 runs per over.

Lets assume ZIM batted an additional 50 overs at 2.5 runs per over (ie a blockathon). In other words 115 overs instead of 65, at 2.5 an over makes a total of 287, instead of 181. Thus making BD's target aprox 430 from 130 overs at 3.31 per over. More difficult? Exponentially so. But if we are worried about BD surviving 180 overs to chase 320, then either batting conditions are not that difficult, or the bowling is poor, meaning 430 could theoretically also be chased in 130 overs. This is an extreme example of course.

At any rate this is all theoretical. Lets just sit back and see what happens.

[Kriterion_BD]

Looking at the dismissals it was Williams & Hami who played the worst shots 'reverse sweeps' FFS after they both played with great patience. I more angry with those two then Raza & BT

The ZIM batters have actually shown a bit of restraint on the sweep. Yes Hami and BT tried a bunch of lap sweeps in the first innings, but my pet peeve is sweeping. Don't get me wrong, the sweep is a lovely shot, but the key is it has to be NATURAL. The ZIM batters premeditate the sweep as a "get out of jail card" against spinners. No, no, no. You can't do that. There are so many risks to sweeping. Being lbw, getting bowled, top edging, etc. The sweep has to be used sparingly.

The reverse sweep is even more dangerous. If you sweep, it has to be the conventional sweep. Reverse sweeps should only be attempted 10-15% of the times you attempt sweeps. Even then it should be if there is a gap between point and backward point and the ball is well outside the off stump with little chance of turning back in to hit the stumps.

[ZIMDOGGY]

I disagree with the above - when we were batting there was still 2-3 days of play remaining. There was absolutely no impetus at that stage to play in an attacking manner. Wicket retention should have been the order of the day... keep BD in the field for a long, long time and accumulate in the process.

Instead we seemed to blaze away and now there's no time pressure on BD at all. Then can go at under 2 an over and get home comfortably... basically they just need a couple of guys to bat like Moor did and they'll win. No risk necessary.

Then you would have 50 cunts around the bat and the smallest bobble becomes a catching threat. And after 4 hours of blocking, youve only added 30 runs. Whats the point? Besides, keep the bowlers guessing too, dont reveal your mindset.

That 'amazing' watchful Regis innings only yielded him what? 20 runs? BT did better in literally ten mins by playing chess with the fielders.

Watchful accumulation is the go.

[Kriterion_BD]

We are about to begin in 5 mins I think.

[TapsC]

Big day for Mavuta for me. He was already spinning the ball on day 2 but just wasnt accurate. It will be spinning today and he has a chance to win a game for us or go down the M'shangwe route. Problem is he leaks runs.

Mawoyo said something which I mentioned was bizarre but given the circumstances made sense. Nyumbu should have played. Raza is the biggest threat to Bangladesh because its packed with left handers. Unless Mavuta bowls a googly every delivery we basically have 3 guys spinning the ball in the same direction.

Spin is the way to go for me because there will be an opportunity every 20-25 deliveries. Chakabva also has a big big role to play. We cant afford to miss opportunities.

Im backing us to win but only just. Those last 2 boundaries by Chatara to be the difference lots of pressure on Bangladesh too. Most of those guys dont have high averages. They will be under serious pressure and they like to play shots. The one thing I have noticed about test cricket is that there is always a collapse at some point.

[Kriterion_BD]

Decent start...1/10th of the way there.

At this stage we were 4 down already in the first innings.

[Kriterion_BD]

Spin is the way to go for me because there will be an opportunity every 20-25 deliveries. Chakabva also has a big big role to play. We cant afford to miss opportunities.

Very true.

Im backing us to win but only just. Those last 2 boundaries by Chatara to be the difference lots of pressure on Bangladesh too. Most of those guys dont have high averages. They will be under serious pressure and they like to play shots. The one thing I have noticed about test cricket is that there is always a collapse at some point.

Mominul is still averaging over 40. Mushfiq averages 34, but given that his overseas average is closer to 40 or even higher, he's a much better player than a 34 average. Imrul is slightly better than his 26 average. Riyad is very much a 27 average batsman.

Missing Tamim who averages 37, but is good enough to average 45. And Shakib averages around 39 which is about where his true batting potential is, in my estimation (although he often throws his wicket away).

[TapsC]

Dropped catch. Dont tell me its going to be one of those days

[eugene]

Great review, I wasn't sure it was a good idea.