Swervy
International Captain
from cricinfo:
On November 10, 2000, Test cricket's latest team took their first strides on the international stage. A nation rejoiced as the first-timers made the Indians sweat and struggle before finally succumbing. The start was much more than any debut side could have bargained for, the future was promising, and a country-crazy country could not have been blamed for expecting more success very soon.
Four-and-a-half years and 36 Tests later, fans in Bangladesh and critics the world over are still waiting for the team to realise the potential that was on display at Dhaka in 2000. Their only Test win was a pyrrhic one, against a Zimbabwe side shattered by the exodus of several top stars. Innings defeats have been par for course, and the latest one, at Lord's against England, has set forth a new stream of questions regarding their status as a Test team. Have Bangladesh improved at all over the last four years?
A general idea of their progress - or the lack of it - can be gleaned by comparing the results in their last few matches against those in their early days. Do their batsmen score more runs and bat longer than they used to? Are their bowlers more effective in terms of taking more wickets and keeping the runs in check? At first impression, it might not seem like they've made any progress, but the stats reveal an improvement, albeit a marginal one.
Even excluding Bangladesh's two-Test home series against Zimbabwe earlier this year, the numbers reveal a slight change for the better. Since the away series against Australia in 2003, Bangladesh have reduced the deficit between runs scored per wicket and runs conceded per wicket by ten - that's a 25% improvement. They have also managed to take the first-innings lead three times in those 16 Tests - twice against Pakistan and once against West Indies, and the average deficit conceded has reduced considerably to 165. They've shown better staying power as well, lasting 19 overs more per innings than they did in their first two-and-a-half years.
First 19 Tests Last 16 Tests
(excl Zim series)
Runs/ wkt scored 18.55 21.38
Runs/ wkt conceded 58.27 51.35
Ave no. of overs batted
in 1st innings 67.3 86.3
Ave 1st-inn. lead conceded 271 165
Runs/ over scored 2.78 2.89
Runs/ over conceded 3.68 3.35
showing signs of improvement!!!!
On November 10, 2000, Test cricket's latest team took their first strides on the international stage. A nation rejoiced as the first-timers made the Indians sweat and struggle before finally succumbing. The start was much more than any debut side could have bargained for, the future was promising, and a country-crazy country could not have been blamed for expecting more success very soon.
Four-and-a-half years and 36 Tests later, fans in Bangladesh and critics the world over are still waiting for the team to realise the potential that was on display at Dhaka in 2000. Their only Test win was a pyrrhic one, against a Zimbabwe side shattered by the exodus of several top stars. Innings defeats have been par for course, and the latest one, at Lord's against England, has set forth a new stream of questions regarding their status as a Test team. Have Bangladesh improved at all over the last four years?
A general idea of their progress - or the lack of it - can be gleaned by comparing the results in their last few matches against those in their early days. Do their batsmen score more runs and bat longer than they used to? Are their bowlers more effective in terms of taking more wickets and keeping the runs in check? At first impression, it might not seem like they've made any progress, but the stats reveal an improvement, albeit a marginal one.
Even excluding Bangladesh's two-Test home series against Zimbabwe earlier this year, the numbers reveal a slight change for the better. Since the away series against Australia in 2003, Bangladesh have reduced the deficit between runs scored per wicket and runs conceded per wicket by ten - that's a 25% improvement. They have also managed to take the first-innings lead three times in those 16 Tests - twice against Pakistan and once against West Indies, and the average deficit conceded has reduced considerably to 165. They've shown better staying power as well, lasting 19 overs more per innings than they did in their first two-and-a-half years.
First 19 Tests Last 16 Tests
(excl Zim series)
Runs/ wkt scored 18.55 21.38
Runs/ wkt conceded 58.27 51.35
Ave no. of overs batted
in 1st innings 67.3 86.3
Ave 1st-inn. lead conceded 271 165
Runs/ over scored 2.78 2.89
Runs/ over conceded 3.68 3.35
showing signs of improvement!!!!
