World Cup Sucess due to playing minnows

[flanflinger]

Originally Posted by Utpal Shuvro.

This team has a taste of winning, up to 2005 we just lost match after match. It was crushing for the players. But over the last two years, we have played lots of matches against lesser teams like Zimbabwe and Scotland. The players know now the feeling of raising their bats after a century, taking out stumps as souvenirs. And the new generation, the Saqibuls and Tamims, have beaten teams like India and Sri Lanka in age-group matches. That is the big difference in this team.

http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/wc200...ry/287246.html

I have argued for a very long time that the most effective method of improving Bangladesh was not seeing themselves beaten in three days by the other Test playing nations, but by playing more games against the best of the rest. On many occasions I have been told that I was wrong and that the best method was to keep them playing against the big boys, and that I didn't want to see them develop.

Well, it seems I was (at least partly) right. By playing more games against the other nations, and learning how to win (rather than how not to lose) it has developed this side.

It is now time to apply this same logic to Tests, have a two tier system set up, promotion and relegation, in place and allow the Bangladesh side to play their way to the top, but learning how to beat the best of the rest. When they are able to consistently beat Zimbabwe etc.. then they should be ready to play the next tier of Test nations

[Rifat]

No I don't agree with this at all,
if playing and winning against minnows was the reason for Bangladesh's success then why hasn't Kenya performed in this world cup? Haven't they played against the lesser teams for the last four years?

Playing against quality opposition is the only way to develop IMO, look at the other associate teams they have gone nowhere playing against each other and county teams

[greg]

Originally Posted by Rifat

look at the other associate teams they have gone nowhere playing against each other and county teams

What about Ireland?

I am delighted for Bangladesh.In a few years they will have improved even more and could be competing at test level to a decent standard instead of being the whipping boys.

[flanflinger]

Originally Posted by Rifat

Playing against quality opposition is the only way to develop IMO,

What does losing on almost every occasion you enter the field teach you, but how to lose!!

The fact is that Bangladesh have played a lot more against the minnows, and learnt how to win!! They look like a Super 8 team, and this is the direct result of playing at a lower level, and improving. For me this is the only way to see them develop long term.

They were rushed into Test cricket for political and not cricketing reasons, and they have paid the price by being beaten consistently. The only reason they beat Zimbabwe is because it has not been able to field a decent team for the last 3-4 years. But I want to see them at the top, but only when they can compete at that level.

I believe to make them into a decent Test side they need to prove they are by far the best of the rest, and work their way to the top.