*Official* England in Bangladesh

[Jungle Jumbo]

Also, bring back Ashraful, took a four-fer yesterday.

 

[King Pietersen]

Tredwell in for Sid. Consoling himself with an isotonic Ginsters pasty or seven, no doubt.

Good selection too. Fat Sid looked very poor in the first game, and you really need 2 spinners in the subcontinent.

Decent pace from Broad in his first over; every ball up over 85mph and a couple topped 88.

Indeed. Was bowling at decent pace in the first game too, saw him top 89mph a couple of times. Maybe those speed guns in England aren't too far off after all.

 

[superkingdave]

Sid apparently out of the rest of the series with a quad strain, doubtful for the tests as well.

 

[Aritro]

Hopefully this will be the end of Aftab Ahmed for a very long time. Like Ashraful, he'll never develop the mental fortitude to even be an average player at this level. Having him in the side is effectively sacrificing a wicket.

 

[Aritro]

And I'm delighted to see Suhrawardi Shuvo get his debut. He's got a superb U/19s pedigree and has followed it up with 2-3 years of top performances in our admittedly dire first class league. I hope he establishes himself as a fixture in this side before the World Cup.

 

[King Pietersen]

Quality fielding from Broad. How did he drop that?

 

[Woodster]

And I'm delighted to see Suhrawardi Shuvo get his debut. He's got a superb U/19s pedigree and has followed it up with 2-3 years of top performances in our admittedly dire first class league. I hope he establishes himself as a fixture in this side before the World Cup.

Don't know much about this guy. I know he helped Bangladesh under 19's to victory over England in the under 19's World Cup back in 2008 with a half century then took 1-21 off 9 overs. Inevitably he is pretty inexperienced, as he is only 21 years old, and has played only 22 List A games. Stats don't show that he offers too much with the bat at this point in his career, but seems quite economical on Bangladeshi pitches.

Is his batting better than stats suggest ? Is he a big turner ?

 

[Woodster]

Quality fielding from Broad. How did he drop that?

Woeful fielding from Broad, should have swallowed that.

Decent start from Tredwell so far, not getting consistently excessive turn (the odd one does get a good grip) but changing his pace and flight effectively.

 

[Aritro]

Don't know much about this guy. I know he helped Bangladesh under 19's to victory over England in the under 19's World Cup back in 2008 with a half century then took 1-21 off 9 overs. Inevitably he is pretty inexperienced, as he is only 21 years old, and has played only 22 List A games. Stats don't show that he offers too much with the bat at this point in his career, but seems quite economical on Bangladeshi pitches.

Is his batting better than stats suggest ? Is he a big turner ?

I can only go by reputation and his impressive record at U/19s and First class level.

Can't answer either question properly, but yes, he's a good enough bat to be worth a place at number 7 (although he'll probably be 8 today)

EDIT: Or at least he was in U/19s. Didn't know his stats with the bat were quite that bad.

 

[Woodster]

Great catch taken from Colly. Driven powerfully to him, but there's a certain expectancy around Collingwood whenever there's a chance that comes his way regardless of how difficult a chance it is.

Not sure he did his dodgy finger too many favours there though.

Looking foward to watching Shakib come out and bat here. I've been impressed when I've seen him bowl but his batting does not seem to match his bowling in terms of consistency.

 

[Woodster]

I can only go by reputation and his impressive record at U/19s and First class level.

Can't answer either question properly, but yes, he's a good enough bat to be worth a place at number 7 (although he'll probably be 8 today)

Yes he looks to have done good things for the under-19 age group. Yes wasn't sure if you'd seen enough of him to make a judgement on those questions, so no worries, suppose we'll find out much more after this game. If he is,as you say, worth a place at number 7, then he should add some depth to the batting at 8 to allow for the loss of Siddique from the batting line-up.

 

[Aritro]

Yes he looks to have done good things for the under-19 age group. Yes wasn't sure if you'd seen enough of him to make a judgement on those questions, so no worries, suppose we'll find out much more after this game. If he is,as you say, worth a place at number 7, then he should add some depth to the batting at 8 to allow for the loss of Siddique from the batting line-up.

Might have to retract that one, he used to play some good knocks at U/19s level and was almost a bowling all-rounder at that level but his batting stats in List A and First Class are surprisingly dire. He can hold a bat though.

 

[Aritro]

Bah, FFS. Shakib was ideally suited to batting in these conditions. His sweep shots off the spinners are really good and exactly what's needed.

Mushfiq needs to convert this 50 into something close to a ton.

 

[Woodster]

Bah, FFS. Shakib was ideally suited to batting in these conditions. His sweep shots off the spinners are really good and exactly what's needed.

Mushfiq needs to convert this 50 into something close to a ton.

Yes Shakib tried to give the innings some urgency and impetus, hit two thumping sweep shots, but couldn't go on.

It is important someone does succeed in that particular role and take the attack to England if they want to reach a competitive total. The taking of the powerplay may be pivotal in terms of when it's taken, and the batsmen that are at the crease when they take it. Would be foolish to leave it too late again and end up with Rubel and Razzaq in the middle trying to make the most of it.

Mushfiqur must bat through certainly towards the very end of the 50 overs, ensuring the scoreboard continues to tick, and to be able to make the most of the powerplay.

 

[superkingdave]

Thing Bangladesh look on course for a good score here, should be a very interesting second innings, shame ill be sat at work

 

[Aritro]

Yes Shakib tried to give the innings some urgency and impetus, hit two thumping sweep shots, but couldn't go on.

It is important someone does succeed in that particular role and take the attack to England if they want to reach a competitive total. The taking of the powerplay may be pivotal in terms of when it's taken, and the batsmen that are at the crease when they take it. Would be foolish to leave it too late again and end up with Rubel and Razzaq in the middle trying to make the most of it.

Mushfiqur must bat through certainly towards the very end of the 50 overs, ensuring the scoreboard continues to tick, and to be able to make the most of the powerplay.

We'd do well to hold off till the 45th over till we take that power play I reckon. These two seem to be doing a good job of working and nurdling these slow bowlers to 7-10 runs an over. The last thing we need is one of them going out before the power play because our last three batsman have rarely given us more than 15 runs in recent series.

 

[Woodster]

We'd do well to hold off till the 45th over till we take that power play I reckon. These two seem to be doing a good job of working and nurdling these slow bowlers to 7-10 runs an over. The last thing we need is one of them going out before the power play because our last three batsman have rarely given us more than 15 runs in recent series.

It's important that they get some acceleration going from here on in. Think England will be happy if they can limit Bangladesh to ones and twos and not allow too many boundaries. The powerplay could be crucial. That said, Rahim played a couple of lovely shots for boundaries off Tredwell in his last over.

 

[Woodster]

Decent score from here, probably 265+. Wickets will be key. Anything less than this and I think England will be the happier.

 

[andyc]

It's a pity Rahim went out there, but Bangladesh really need to get a wiggle on here, definitely need over 250 to be competitive. Would be a waste of their start if they don't make something like that.

 

[Woodster]

Poor use of the powerplay unfortunately again for Bangladesh in terms of their one set batsman on 76 not having the chance to exploit the fielding restrictions. Seems they made their mind up before the innings started about when they were taking the PP, and have not been swayed from that despite the position of the game suggesting otherwise.