So, finally Bangladesh has been recognized as a test nation and they would be beginning their test careers against India in November. It is a big achievement for the minnows of the cricketing world to become the tenth test-playing nation. As we watched the Bangladeshi team play the other day against England, we were quite impressed with the way they approached the game. They did lose the match quite cheaply but their attitude was positive. All that is fine and good to see but can you imagine them as a test side and giving any team a good fight. I don’t know if others did but I did see some top order batsmen of Bangladesh jumping and leaving the stumps every time Gough and Caddick came steaming in. This was a rather flat pitch; imagine if they were playing in Australia or South Africa and Donald or McGrath were bowling. Some of them might not want to bat. Their running between the wickets left a lot to be desired. Sorry if I sound rude but I do feel that giving them the test status was a bit unjustified. One major win against Pakistan in a match that is suspected to be fixed, doesn’t make any team good enough to be amongst the others test playing nations who have fought hard and proved themselves worthy of that place. 

Test cricket is no easy arena. It is all about class whether it is the batsmen or the bowlers who are trying to do out do each other. Bowlers with their pace, swing and bouncers with 6 slip fielders waiting for any kind of edge to grab it with both hands and the batsmen with their technique and talent still go on to make centuries inspite of all the odds. It is the test of nerves and it is very different from one-day cricket where you can throw your bat around and get away with it. That’s exactly what the Bangladesh batsmen did if you people remember. There were very few shots, which were crisply hit. I don’t remember watching any classy cover drives, or square cuts or straight drives. No one can deny that they were strong hits and some huge sixes were played but they were played primarily on the leg side.

The bowling was not impressive at all as the opening bowler bowled a 13 balls over only because he did not know where to land his foot. That is criminal at such a level and it is a shame. Can you imagine someone like Agarkar or Prasad doing the same? Even Zaheer Khan was far more mature inspite of playing in his first international match. Their fielding was also below par.

I am not trying to offend anybody but I am just stating a fact. No one wants to see a test match turned into a joke. ICC could have waited a few more years and then given them the status according to their performance. Anyway the decision has been taken and all we can hope for is that they would not embarrass anybody. All the best to them.

From: An Admiring Fan        

So what are you waiting for ? Write in to us about anything or everything on cricket and win a 
Yeh Hai Cricket Kashmir Willow bat for the best Fan-doo Letter.