Bangladesh in England

Milky is yearning for some test cricket , well here it is! Next week's the 1st test , but how much of a test we'll have to wait and see. If the good weather holds (29C tomorrow!) batting conditions should improve enormously. The heavy roller can still be used in test matches , so that's another helpful aide for the batters.  (No heavy rollers being used this season in the county championship).
           If England don't win the tests convincingly , it'll be the weather , not Bangladeshi batsmen!


Edited by Sledger - 21 May 2010 at 8:23am

Yes Strauss will be back , along with Jimmy Anderson. Onions is out for 3 months , which could well give Finn a chance to nail down a spot before Pakistan arrive.  I've a feeling that Bresnan might get a go too - he is looked on favourably by Flower and that can't be a bad thing.

Vaughan and Trescothick didn't have extraordinary first-class records when they were first picked and they didn't prove to be too shabby. Morgan will probably do fine, and average about 150 by the end of the series, given that if he gets a bat, he'll be in at number five/six just when England should be looking to declare.

Bangladesh are one of only two countries Andrew Strauss hasn't scored a century against, by the way. He's only played them twice, back in 2005 and a ton at Lord's would be a nice way to show that his rest has done him the good he says it has.

Australia played Michael Clarke when he was only averaging in the 30s or 40s in FC cricket... picked him on pure ability and it worked. Morgan is the same, I bet any money he'll lift so far up when playing at this level... it's happened with a lot of cricketers.

You'll notice with selection here in Australia, they pick them out of no where (e.g. Hughes after 1 season, Warner for 2020s after not playing any FC cricket, etc) or they'll pick them after they make 10000 FC runs (e.g. Hussey, North, etc)

That's right. Hoping Usman Khawaja gets a go for Australia. Looks a good talent, Australia needs a bit more diversity in the side. Could see him facing Pakistan in the tests coming up. He's Paki born (came to Australia as a 3 year old) so should be a nice match up!

175? He made a double ton Sam...

I don't think Trott is as great as he seems. I mean well done for making 200, but it wasn't very enterprising at all and 20 4s is not a top effort, neither was the fact he was up against 3 very poor medium pacers.
In Bangladesh he was found out against good spin bowling on turning wickets and in RSA against top class pacers on pacy surfaces. His ton against Australia was on a very placid wicket which gave no assistance to Australia's all pace attack, where Australia really needed a spinner. So I really can't say that his 2 main knocks have been that superb. I think when Bopara gets his act together he'll be back in Trott's spot. That's just my opinion. I do certainly believe that Strauss, KP, Cook and even the debutant Morgan are a cut above him.

Originally posted by milkman 175? He made a double ton Sam...

So into a 5th day and an outside chance that the Bangladeshis can save this one!  Tamim Iqbal's century was simply brilliant and the English attack was reduced to a rabble!  4 successive half centuries against this England side shows his class and after Sehwag and Gayle just has to be the most attacking opener in world cricket - well done lad !
              A long way to go to save it though and the weather forecast is good , so they'll need to bat a good length of time. I hope it goes to the last session with England having to bat with great urgency - then we might just see a KP and Morgan show!  If it is a draw , then hats off to a gutsy performance by the visitors . If England get home that in no way detracts from some outstanding batting from the Bangladeshi top order.  Lose or draw (they can't win!) they can hold their heads high and hopefully draw confidence from this match.


Edited by Sledger - 31 May 2010 at 9:38am

A beautiful sunny day in Manchester for the 2nd test , but the long term forecast isn't that great! Two days could well be heavily disrupted by rain , so to win 2-0 England will have to attack from the off!
                 Good news for Ajmal Shahzad who gets to make his test debut today.  He's sharpish and on what is England's quickes track , should be quite a handful if he gets it in the right areas.  The lad's a more than decent bat too , with a first class average in the high 30's. Steven Finn should be given the new ball for the first time and must be in with a great chance of early success - the Bangladeshi batsmen will find this wicket more menacing that that beauty at Lords.
               I expect England to win and win well despite the weather interferring as usual at Old Trafford.   


Edited by Sledger - 04 June 2010 at 10:27am

137-3 with KP and Bell at the crease. This morning there was some bounce and swing , even though the sun shone brilliantly. That should have gone now as the ball's lost it's shine.  The wickets left me with different thoughts - Strauss nicked one that left him a touch after playing very nicely - no real concerns there. Trott got one that came back into him and with genuine pace - a little inside edge onto the stumps. He didn't get right forward , but he hadn't been there long and I think the pace surprised him.  Cook's dismissal was the one that got me thinking.  It was Razzak's 1st ball of the match and Cook played way in front of his pad , edged and was caught at slip. He went hard at it too and it was a nothing shot - simply put , a batsman who's plays spin well just wouldn't have been troubled by such a delivery and definitely wouldn't have played it in such a manor!   
             The Cook/Struass opening partnership has been pretty successful , but Cook is starting to worry me.  He's playing around his front pad far too much and the LBW's are mounting up , if the summer goes badly for him he might not make Australia.

           I'm on leave next week  team  , so no postings - enjoy the cricket!


Edited by Sledger - 04 June 2010 at 2:22pm

ENG are 244/5 and one has to say after watching the first test that Bangladesh so often play so so well in patches but throw it all away in a matter of one or two sessions! Flashes of brilliance but zero consistency.

Fearless batting from Tamim as usual but Bangladesh pulled off a usual and got a usual result, from what was a usual performance from England at home from recent years. 

Ireland made a huge blunder for my money in not taking their batting powerplay immediately at the end of the initial powerplay, at a time when the Aussies were in disarray.