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

[Jayb]

Kriterion, they seriously sucked. There were maybe 3 peach deliveries, the others just gave it away.

[jaybro]

Lots of rain overnight in Sylhet hopefully the ground has good drainage, we might also see some rain in the afternoon session. Luckily for Zimbabwe they've moved the game forward by bowling the Bangas out in 2 sessions.

Yeah I agree Jemisi lets wait and see maybe Mavuta & Wellington will produce the goods, but we all thought it was odd to play 2 spinners when we already had Raza & Williams especially considering neither are dependable with the bat, an extra batsman would have been useful let's just hope we don't collapse for 90 all out and live to regret it.

Tomorrow is a big day Bangladesh are still in the game because they know they can bowl us out for under 100 on their day, although our method of playing very safe worked in the first innings and Bangladesh were punished for being too attacking I still think we need to be positive tomorrow and get some runs on the board, BT is the key man for me he is naturally aggressive so if he can score a 50 plus score we're just about home.

As Eugene said nothing excites me more (cricket wise) than a good test match

[Kriterion_BD]

All the BD grounds have good drainage.

Our only saving grace is if we threw our wickets away and the pitch is still flat. I reckon by day 4 it will start turning.

[jaybro]

The commentators keep saying it's flat and it's a good batting deck, it might be flat but I wouldn't say it's a batting paradise, not one batsman has scored freely except for Hamilton at the start of his innings, it's a typical Bangladeshi wicket where it's a bit low and a bit slow. Granted it will get worse to bat on but I don't think it has been easy by any stretch.

Your mate Mohammed Islam has written an article about 'no one caring' about this test series, he also mentioned it again it his latest article. I think some of these Bangladeshi journos and commentators have gotten a bit ahead of themselves with their recent 'success' and they've forgotten that when no one else wanted to play them Zimbabwe was always happy to accommodate them.

I feel the media and the players haven't shown Zimbabwe much respect this tour and they're getting punished now.

[eugene]

I am feeling confident which makes me nervous. I can easily see us getting rolled for under 100 in 32 overs leaving Bangladesh plenty of time to score a comfortable victory. As Zimbabwe fans we have often seen defeat snatched from the jaws of victory.

[Kriterion_BD]

The commentators keep saying it's flat and it's a good batting deck, it might be flat but I wouldn't say it's a batting paradise, not one batsman has scored freely except for Hamilton at the start of his innings, it's a typical Bangladeshi wicket where it's a bit low and a bit slow. Granted it will get worse to bat on but I don't think it has been easy by any stretch.

There is no "typical" Bangladeshi pitch per se. We either have dead flat tracks like the kind we had from 2012 to 2015 where basically 500 is a par score. The other types are the raging turners where matches end by lunch on Day 4.

The wickets from the 2014 ZIM tours were different. The Dhaka Test where ZIM had us 0 for 3 chasing 100 in the 4th innings was a turner, but also offered bounce for the seamers. The Khulna and Chittagong wickets were flat for 3 days and then started turning a bit from day 4.

This Sylhet pitch has been pretty flat so far. Its not a 500 wicket, but probably one where 350-400 is a par score batting first. Makes Bangladesh's 140 all out especially apalling.

Your mate Mohammed Islam has written an article about 'no one caring' about this test series, he also mentioned it again it his latest article. I think some of these Bangladeshi journos and commentators have gotten a bit ahead of themselves with their recent 'success' and they've forgotten that when no one else wanted to play them Zimbabwe was always happy to accommodate them.

I feel the media and the players haven't shown Zimbabwe much respect this tour and they're getting punished now.

Yeah that Isam article was in poor taste IMO.

The BD players are regarded (with some merit) as being obnoxious and disrespectful especially by Indian and Pakistani fans. But I'm curious as to whats happened this series to make you say that?

[Kriterion_BD]

I am feeling confident which makes me nervous. I can easily see us getting rolled for under 100 in 32 overs leaving Bangladesh plenty of time to score a comfortable victory. As Zimbabwe fans we have often seen defeat snatched from the jaws of victory.

Look at this way. Even if ZIM are bundled out for 50, BD have to chase nearly 200 to win. And we haven't scored 200 in 7 consecutive Test innings.

If ZIM gets 150, they have almost 300 to defend.

Not saying Bangladesh can't pull it off - but there's less than a 5-10% chance of that.

[jaybro]

There is no "typical" Bangladeshi pitch per se. We either have dead flat tracks like the kind we had from 2012 to 2015 where basically 500 is a par score. The other types are the raging turners where matches end by lunch on Day 4.

The wickets from the 2014 ZIM tours were different. The Dhaka Test where ZIM had us 0 for 3 chasing 100 in the 4th innings was a turner, but also offered bounce for the seamers. The Khulna and Chittagong wickets were flat for 3 days and then started turning a bit from day 4.

This Sylhet pitch has been pretty flat so far. Its not a 500 wicket, but probably one where 350-400 is a par score batting first. Makes Bangladesh's 140 all out especially apalling.

Well in recent times the pitches have been slow and low ( England & Aus Series ) even the Sri Lanka only had the one Test where the batsman had their way, granted most Tests are played at Mirpur which would make it seem that way.

Bangladesh have changed their way about preparing pitches since Zimbabwe last toured, they have the spinners now so they make pitches to suit, prior to Zimbabwe touring last time they prepared flat decks to favour their batsman so they could play for draws like they did against NZ in 2013

The BD players are regarded (with some merit) as being obnoxious and disrespectful especially by Indian and Pakistani fans. But I'm curious as to whats happened this series to make you say that?

The Islam article portrays how I think the players and media feel, they think they can win the World Cup (or do very well) so why are they bothering playing Tests against Zimbabwe of all nations? I'm sure if India were here touring they wouldn't be questioning a test series.

I realise India are a much bigger fish but as I pointed out Zimbabwe has been a good friend for a long time so I think the disrespect is unwarranted, the fans obviously don't feel the same way the test has had good crowds.

For the players I think the way they came out to bat showed they thought they could just rock up and play their strokes like they did in Chittagong, whether that's an issue that's been haunting them for the last year or so as results would suggest or whether it's the players not respecting their opponents is up for debate, either way they've had a rude shock.

[Black Mamba]

This team can bring some success in test arena in future, the only weakness in this team is Chari & Chakabva. Moor has improved his batting, should look his keeping skills now, and there is a need of one seam bowling allrounder.

Faraz Akram, Luke Jongwe or William Mashinge could fit in that spot.

[ZIMDOGGY]

This team can bring some success in test arena in future, the only weakness in this team is Chari & Chakabva. Moor has improved his batting, should look his keeping skills now, and there is a need of one seam bowling allrounder.

Faraz Akram, Luke Jongwe or William Mashinge could fit in that spot.

Has jongwe even been playing the last few years?

you cant really just come from nowhere and be back at full fitness. Even Kohli would take some time to tune up and get his eye in after being out of the game 2/3 years.