*Official* Bangladesh in the West Indies 2018

[Beamer]

Debut for Keemo Paul. Receives his cap from Ambrose.

Interesting selection decisions. They played Bishoo consistently on pitches that seamed but didn't turn. Then we get to a pitch that has consistently suited spinners recently and they drop Bishoo If they don't believe in Bishoo they shouldn't play him at all and just be done with it.

Maybe the pitch is less spin friendly than usual and the management are onto something? Let's see. Either way I'm delighted to see Keemo Paul and Hetmeyer play. It is certainly a much stronger batting line up now.

 

[trundler]

Which channel is airing this in India (and hence Pakistan on dish)?

 

[cnerd123]

Good to see Taijul back

 

[GoodAreasShane]

Smith gone, could see it coming from a mile off

 

[Daemon]

Rubel finally dropped

Interesting tactic this, go in with 2 quicks (one clearly a new ball specialist) and then give them 1 over in total with the new ball.

 

[Beamer]

Rubel finally dropped

Interesting tactic this, go in with 2 quicks (one clearly a new ball specialist) and then give them 1 over in total with the new ball.

I really don't think it's good for test cricket tbh. But it may well work against us on this pitch. We'll see.

 

[Prince EWS]

Rubel finally dropped

Interesting tactic this, go in with 2 quicks (one clearly a new ball specialist) and then give them 1 over in total with the new ball.

Made more interesting by the fact that they won the toss and sent the opposition in. I think Mehedi made sense because of Smith, but not Shakib too and certainly not two spinners even after Smith was out, especially since Jayed is basically a specialist new ball bowler.

 

[Beamer]

Made more interesting by the fact that they won the toss and sent the opposition in. I think Mehedi made sense because of Smith, but not Shakib too and certainly not two spinners even after Smith was out, especially since Jayed is basically a specialist new ball bowler.

Also even more interesting when you consider that we dropped our specialist spinner and are playing 4 seamers! One team has got this drastically wrong anyway, lets see which!

 

[Beamer]

Also these spinners will be ruining the new ball and scuffing it like crazy. I'm pretty sure Abu Jayed is fuming.

 

[Prince EWS]

Also even more interesting when you consider that we dropped our specialist spinner and are playing 4 seamers! One team has got this drastically wrong anyway, lets see which!

To be fair if it's a pitch with in it for everyone then you could make a good argument for both teams being right in just playing to their strengths. I think the West Indies selection change was based more on the revealed weakness of the Bangladesh players and the performance of Bishoo specifically than a outright balance orientated "pitch meant we needed a spinner in the first test but don't now" kind of decision. The way the Bangladesh batsmen handled the quicks in the first Test, the fifth bowler for the West Indies become less important so they've given themselves more insurance against a batting collapse instead.

 

[Beamer]

To be fair if it's a pitch with in it for everyone then you could make a good argument for both teams being right in just playing to their strengths. I think the West Indies selection change was based more on the revealed weakness of the Bangladesh players and the performance of Bishoo specifically than a outright balance orientated "pitch meant we needed a spinner in the first test but don't now" kind of decision. The way the Bangladesh batsmen handled the quicks in the first Test, the fifth bowler for the West Indies become less important so they've given themselves more insurance against a batting collapse instead.

Good points. Also they are under a fair amount of pressure to play Hetmeyer who keeps scoring hundreds in practice matches whilst Devon continues to stink up the place. This was the only real way they could do that.

 

[Prince EWS]

Good points. Also they are under a fair amount of pressure to play Hetmeyer who keeps scoring hundreds in practice matches whilst Devon continues to stink up the place. This was the only real way they could do that.

Yeah, I'm more or less on board with the selection changes from both sides, especially after seeing the pitch. It looks like a really good Test wicket to me rather than one that really demands a certain bowling attack balance. I'm not on board with Bangladesh bowling first and then bowling spin from both ends after two overs at all -- Shakib gonna Shakib -- but I think the selection was basically fine.

From a West Indies perspective I probably would've picked Cornwall for this game. He could contribute with the bat even if he didn't need to bowl much, and (at risk of Miyagiing) having allrounders down to nine would offset the fact that Dowrich is a bit of a weak #6. I don't think I would've picked Bishoo though if Cornwall wasn't an option; specialist fifth bowlers are always on shaky ground for me even if they offer variety, and Bangladesh's bowlers looked more likely to surprise in the first Test than their batsmen did (low bar I know, but still).

 

[Beamer]

Bangladesh's bowlers looked more likely to surprise in the first Test than their batsmen did (low bar I know, but still).

Definitely agree with that. I think this is a classic case of not wanting to expose their batsman to our seamers rather than making a strategic call to bowl first and then bowl spinners from both ends.

 

[garylyon]

Which channel is airing this in India (and hence Pakistan on dish)?

Sony Six. Or you could stream it online on SonyLIV

 

[Beamer]

Gosh is this the twilight test? What sort of review was that?!

 

[trundler]

Sony Six. Or you could stream it online on SonyLIV

They're airing the India tour.

 

[Beamer]

This Powell and Devon shaped top order problem just won't go away. It is a big liability having them both in our top order.

 

[garylyon]

They're airing the India tour.

They are airing both I think on different channels with pretty similar names. I'm watching both games.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Kind of wish Windie was here to gush over Brathwaite. Hard to believe he is one test away from 50 already. West Indies have played a decent amount in the last few years then.

 

[mr_mister]

Good signs for young Hetmyer