Ashraful??? The real deal

[Paoli]

Probably the next big batsmen from an unheralded country. Watch him.

[bevo]

Ashraful won man of the match in the test match in chittagong with is 150 or so, so he is definately one of bangladesh's key men , Mohammad Rafique is one of the other key man and you could also include Mashrafe Mortaza.

[Paoli]

Rafique is 34 but has a perfect replacement in Enamul Haque. I reckon Bangla are the only country in the world with a bloody good back up spinner!!! Good on ya!!

[bevo]

australia have plenty of back up spinners , mcgill , hauritz and in future dan cullen and xavier doherty , but bangladesh spin bowlers are good , i like their action

[Maranello]

And four months after Paoli's bold prediction, Ashraful has indeed emerged as the biggest star in Bangladesh cricket, at least for today! 100 off 100 balls, a match-winning knock against the world champions and their first-line bowling attack - excellent from the young man.

Only the second hundred ever by any Bangladeshi in all ODIs, and as the first one was against Zimbabwe sometime in 1998/99, this one clearly is the best ODI innings by a Bangladeshi ever. He had a duck in his game, so to follow that up with such a memorable knock shows the guy has mental toughness and fortitude, to go with the obvious talent and strokes.

What an endearing fella too, one of the least eloquent post-match interviews I have ever seen but still managed to seem like a perfectly nice chap.

[Zainub]

I love people who seem like "nice" people. B'desh have always had the talent, now some of these players are starting to realise what they can achieve by utilizing all the talent they have...plus...what you can achieve given a bit of luck goes your way...

Originally Posted by Cricinfo

Ashraful's innings showed great composure and all the stroke play that had been talked about before the tour. He was given a crucial reprieve, on 54, when Gillespie dropped him at long-leg from an hook shot. The sun was in Gillespie's eyes but the catch should have been taken, and the momentum was heading Bangladesh's way.

That's un-Australia like. But good on Ashraful, good batsmen make use of the lives they get. And make the opposition pay.

[greg]

Aftab Ahmed is better than Ashraful,so the future is looking brighter for them.

[vvvrulz]

I knew this guy will make it big the only other time i saw him play, in the world cup against New Zealand.
Yes they had a shocker at that world cup, but Ashraful's fifty and some lusty hitting by Mohd Rafique led Bangladesh to a half decent total of 220-240 odd.

During that innings I made a mental note, this guy can certainly bat.
Aftab Ahmed is no mug either, but another guy I was impressed with was Tashifur Imran, who looked to be a decent strokemaker before admittadely playing an average shot. If these guys are nurtured right, theyll make it big.

[butchering lee]

Originally Posted by palioli69

Ashraful??? The real deal

guess so!

seriously when i see two swallows - out come the t-shirts! ...i´ve enjoyed the last few days of cricket i can tell you.

not since zim/wi (maybe ind/pak) have i been looking forward so much to the start of each day´s play.

[ashralia]

Ashraful made a century against Australia and gave him confidence. He went on to smack 50 off 21 against the poms. I love the Australian cricket team. I hate all other sides. I have a soft spot for the bangladesh side and i just hope you can continue for the hope of bangladesh cricket.