Following that losing the first test miserably at Sylhet came as bolt from the blue . With back to wall no option was left but bouncing back and redeeming . Bangladesh did that in grand fashion winning the test by 217 runs . Once a tough competitor Zimbabwe cricket team is now a shadow of its past . Bangladesh is way ahead of them in all formats of the game . Taking nothing away from the resolute performance of Zimbabwe in the Sylhet test , it was very unfortunate performance of Bangladesh . That was the fourth loss in four consecutive tests against Sri Lanka at home , West Indies on tour and Zimbabwe in Sylhet . In none of the 8 innings of four test Bangladesh could even reach even 200. With West Indies home series knocking on the door let us look back in retrospect what went wrong and what needs doing?
There is no denial that limited over formats especially ODI is the strongest forte of Bangladesh. Team tiger can beat any team of world anywhere in ODI on their day. In tests also in not too distant past Bangladesh beat stronger teams England and Australia at home and Srilanka on tour. But Bangladesh is yet forming a good enough team competitive against any team excepting slow low turning home surface . Batsmen excepting tried and tested Tamim, Shakib , Mushfique and Mahmudullah rarely perform . Pace bowling is very ordinary. Spinners succeed only on turning tracks . In absence of injured Tamim and Shakib Bangladesh took a gamble in Sylhet test fielding an unbalanced team . Losing the gamble Bangladesh was in deep water . They had no options left but winning the only other test at Dhaka for squaring the series . Great that nightmare was turned around and Bangladesh won big . Some significant milestones were established . But did Dhaka test settled all ifs and buts ? Perhaps did , perhaps not.
In both innings Bangladesh top order crumbled . Four top batsmen in either innings were blown away by steady and accurate pace bowling of Kyle Jarvis , Chattara and Tirpano . Mominul, Mushfique played two extraordinary innings in the first innings achieving some individual and partnership milestones . Mahmudullah (101*) and Mithun ( 67) rescued Bangladesh from embracing situation in the second innings . But the puzzles of top order batting remained unresolved . With terrific Tamim still not fit for playing who would open the innings against much more fearsome West Indian pacers ? Even Mominul only played one great innings of the four , Mushfique also did that as well as Mahmudullah . Batting against quality bowling still remains an issue at least in test . It was good sign that Mehedy Miraj has started batting sensibly and Mithun looked good in the second innings . But with Tamim not available , Shakib also iffy Bangladesh must be very careful in selecting the test squad against West Indies . The nightmare of test white wash against West Indies still haunts many. One or two tried and tested experienced top order batsmen from domestic cricket must come under serious consideration. Why top order batsmen can not handle swings and seam movement of new ball on batting friendly wicket ? Why they have to get out playing ordinary strokes all the time ? Soumya is waiting in the wings . Mosaddeq , Shariar Nafis , Tushar Imarn must be under the radar .
Other aspect is very ordinary fielding, poor catching . This is an aspect which has no explanation . The team has so many young legs, still why so many catches were dropped ? Ground fielding and catching needs huge improvement ?
I think even in the absence of Shakib Bangladesh spinners performed extraordinary . Taijul was superb and Mehedy Miraj also produced a match winning 5 wicket haul in the final innings . Bangladesh played with a lone rookie seam bowler in first test . In the second Kahled and even Mustafiz failed the exploit the situation. Hope legendary Courtney Walsh is equally concerned . Bangladesh must reassess its pace bowling options . Rubel may partner with Mustafiz . Khaled looked pacey and possess a good bouncer . But lacks control of line and length. Perhaps had debutants nerve .
Winning the test at Dhaka Bangladesh escaped total embarrassment . But series against West Indies would be very different . They are much stromger test team and higher in the ranking . Catching them on spinning track may or may not work.
Bangladesh must not worry much for ODI where it has a settled team. None should worry about Charismatic Mashrafee joining politics and the election campaigning schedule clashing with ODI series . The much I know Mash he will appear in full shape for the series come what may and lead the team with exemplary own performance also. Bangladesh even after losing test series badly against West Indies won ODI and T20 series. But we must remember West Indies has some potential match winners in ODI and T20. We must not be complacent at all. We must remember this will be last chance at home to work on possible Bangladesh team for ICC world 2019 .
The nation is now in the grip of election fever. Wins in tests, ODI and T20s against West Indies will add additional spices. Hope Cricket think tank learned lessons from the Zimbabwe series.