No Complaints This Time -- Posted by Isam on Sunday, August 10 2003
It was just like any other Test or ODI series that Bangladesh play. A simple result where they lost all the matches and came back to Dhaka with heavy hearts and the statement, ‘there is a lot more to learn about international cricket’.

Australia is no easy contender. And here lies the difference from all the previous endeavors that Bangladesh went into. They were supposed to be mauled so bad that they would be condemned as a cricket playing country. Their status may have been under yet more undue pressure. But barring a few mishaps, the tour was better than any.

David Hookes’ observation was whole-heartedly welcomed by some quarters of cricket, even in Bangladesh! But the man’s comments were vilified by the first day of the Test Match at Darwin. They scored only 97 but the bowling effort was a welcome relief and more so was the prediction being proved totally wrong. Bangladesh have lasted that ‘one’ day, Mr. Hookes.

But the series wasn’t about the severe predictions and prophecies. It was about a cricket team, under a new coach, playing on its own. Indeed, Bangladesh are a happier team when abroad. Dav Whatmore has been given the toughest job in the world, harder than that of Ganguly, Vaughan, Wright or Fletcher. But he has shown some improvement at least in the discourse of what comes out of the Bangladesh team and the management. But accidents do happen as with the manager being absolutely unawares of a certain Wisden.

Hannan Sarkar has already been marked as the next captain. Arguments for him: Talented and experience as a leader. But he has a longer distance to cover. True that he is more elegant than most other Bangladesh batsman but he has to settle down first. This is the bane of sub-continent cricket. Young, talented and classy batsman has to be captains and this spoils them. Hannan, who is doing his MBA degree, must be thinking that he has got one of the opener slots on his own. And he should be. He has done better than any of the openers in recent memory. Names such as Shahriar Hossain, Mehrab Hossain pop up but this man has scored against Australia and this effort counts.

The sword will certainly fall on Khaled Mahmud sooner and I hope, rather than later. He must understand the team’s requirement and where he stands. In an ideal world, this man is nowhere near a national team. He is taking the place of a genuine batsman or a genuine bowler, a spinner maybe.

The selectors are to be named by the BCB this month before the squad for Pakistan is announced. I must admit that the previous bunch has done nothing but destroy the little faith that the selection panel held. But the new assembly is rumored to be of recently retired players, a la Aravinda and Boon.

The tour was a success as far as the team belief is concerned. Now Whatmore and the senior pros must look to build on it as much as they can. Pakistan will be another vital cog as this is the longest series so far for Bangladesh.

To the Isle of Greatness -- Posted by Moshin on Sunday, August 3 2003
Graeme Craig Smith entered the Test Arena on the 8th of March, 2002, playing in his first test against the premiers of Cricket Australia. His first encounter of test cricket came in the 4th over facing a searing Glen McGrath. Smith’s highest score in that match was a finely constructed 68 and afterwards on the ides of March he was reported saying "test match cricket is a demanding arena". Graeme Smith in his innings of 68 dominated a fierce veracious bowling attack standing tall countering the fire of McGrath and Gillespie in the shades of a former hero named Graeme Pollock. The anonymous opinion growing in South Africa was that Graeme Smith was something special.


Smith Grew up in Transvaal, Johannesburg and soon found himself captaining an under 13 team when he was 12. He played a year younger than his age group and captained every team he has been in till he made the inter-provincial under 19 side. Smith through his confrontational relationship with fellow South African team mate Jacques Rudolph, the Northern’s Captain, learnt about Captaincy the hard way. He developed respect and credibility from his team mates through being a hard nosed and tough leader captaining Gauteng. Smith soon found himself captaining and leading South Africa A against Zimbabwe. What become apparent was that this young boy from Transvaal had the gift of leadership and the gift of commanding respect.


In late March 2003 the atmosphere in the South African cricketing world was due for a change and after an unsuccessful world cup campaign there were some dark and gloomy clouds hovering over South African cricket. As a result Graeme Smith was named as the new South African Captain. To everyone who were distant from Smith’s life this decision from the South African Cricket Board came as a shock, but to his team mates, family and friends this was a trait they were all too familiar with. Smith became the youngest captain ever for South Africa at the age of 22 and had high goals and expectations for his performance and where he wanted to lead his team. Smith is one player who never lacks confidence and found no problem merging his name with the modern day greats, and past heroes that played for South Africa, “I'm not daunted by being the youngest captain, or one of the youngest. That sort of thing goes over my head, it doesn't scare me or affect me.”


Seven months down the track the embryo has grown into a sturdy form of life as Smith’s blade of enthusiasm and raw talent knocked up two double centuries in consecutive matches in his first English tour. His recent form silenced his critics who claimed that his immaturity will be the downfall of his career and that all the pressure at such an early age will have a dramatic effect on his batting. But the young boy from Transvaal has shown that whatever team, match, series and in his batting style he adopts, he stands taller than the rest and demands respect. Smith has just begun his journey to the isle of greatness, the forecast is that he will reach his destination very soon.