2nd Test: England v Bangladesh: Chester-le-Street 2-6 June

[Occasional Fan]

Dav Whatmore was reasonably philosophical in his appearances on TMS last week, albeit a man who was clearly disappointed with some of the schoolboy standard stuff that Bangladesh displayed on occasion. But he thinks worse is to come in the second test. Heck! Worse than an innings and 261 runs? I'm glad for the spectators who only have weekends available that this match only starts on Friday!

Cricinfo report here.

[Nick]

Originally Posted by Richard Jenkins

this is the dilemma. England want to win but also i suppose to give bangladesh a chance to learn some skills/techniques; really, England could win with just one innings. Perhaps if vaughn wins the toss he should forfeit his first innings? or is this to patronising?

Probably depends on whether someone offers him a leather jacket :-)

[Teatime FatCat]

What? Is this it? Are we so apathetic about the forthcoming test match (in about 25 mins I think) that we have this few comments, a desultory interest in what is going to happen. No predictions, no excitement, no enthusiasm for today's game?

Or does the prospect of another mis-match against Bangladesh reduce us to this level of interest?

I for one would like to see GO Jones and F Flintoff pushed up the order to give them a run out. I would also like to see Harmison given several long bowl to see if he can consistently put the ball in the right place. I'd also like to see Strauss make a big, big score as I'm sure Langer, Attapatu, Sehwag and Smith would do.

But what I would really like to see is Whatmore and Fletcher race each other across the outfield in lycra after the game. Let's have a whip round boys and girls

[flanflinger]

Just heard Stewart on 5Live describe Bangladesh as Terrible, and that whoever made the decison to give the Test status should have a long look in the mirror at themselves.. oh and the game will be over by Sunday..

Possibly why there is no real descire to dicuss this game..

[Andy Mellon]

Originally Posted by Teatime FatCat

What? Is this it? Are we so apathetic about the forthcoming test match (in about 25 mins I think) that we have this few comments, a desultory interest in what is going to happen. No predictions, no excitement, no enthusiasm for today's game?

I'm probably more interested in Essex not losing to Derby****e than I am in this game. These matches are for the statisticians and record breakers. There was a great article in the Times showing how inflated some current batsman's averages are by playing Bangladesh and Zimbabwe. Kallis and Kirsten had 4-5 runs higher batting average as a result of playing them. People like Bradman and Hutton didn't have such easy games to up their average. It makes a mockery of records that we play such teams. The ICC needs to do something about this situation, and the sooner the better.

[flanflinger]

Originally Posted by Andy Mellon

There was a great article in the Times showing how inflated some current batsman's averages are by playing Bangladesh and Zimbabwe. Kallis and Kirsten had 4-5 runs higher batting average as a result of playing them. People like Bradman and Hutton didn't have such easy games to up their average.

AM,

With you on that one... Test cricket should not be easy...why is it important, because Cricket is a game that has it's history in stastitics and the fact that these games are giving some players inflated stats is a disgrace...

[Milo]

The averages of many (including Everton Weekes, Hedley Verity and Walter Hammond) were improved by playing new 'relatively substandard' teams like India and New Zealand. I agree with your sentiments regarding this game.....it's just not a new problem.

Syd Barnes' entire career statistics are terribly influenced by his last test series on artifical pitches in South Africa.

[flanflinger]

First wicket down - sadly all too easy... good catch though

[Zainub]

I've tired in the past few weeks to convince a few people that cricket's lexicon is unique, intriguing and fascinating, but when every test match involving Bangladesh comes around and all you get to here is one cliche after another [ 'Bangladesh aren't good enough' , 'they shoudn't be playing test cricket' , 'they're a disgrace' so on so forth...bla, bla, bla ] it becomes quite irritating, and my efforts therefore don't look particularly convincing. People need to get over this, I'm getting sick of it. Bangladesh are not as good as every one else, perhaps not even half as good as every one, every one knows that, including B'desh them selves, but so what, it's not the first time this is happening, is it? Any remembers New Zealand, and Sri Lanka please. Don't also tell me that 'they weren't this bad'. Half of us probably didn't see them at the start of their test journey anyway...I don't see why there should be soo much fuss.

Bangladesh should start with setting themselves mini targets. Like aiming to bat at least 90 overs in an innings, or scoring 250 or 300, and then take it from there. Watching Habib-ul-Bashar must be frustrating to watch for the Tiger fans, everyone goes around saying he is good enough, and from some of the batting I saw him do against Sami and Shoaib, he did look like he was good enough, but he's been really quite so far. In big games, like when you're on your first ever tour to England, and every journalists asks you a hundred times 'if you think Bangladesh should be playing test cricket' , then you need some big player to (cliche coming up) step up & iperform. He is due some runs.

[Teatime FatCat]

Originally Posted by Milo

The averages of many (including Everton Weekes, Hedley Verity and Walter Hammond) were improved by playing new 'relatively substandard' teams like India and New Zealand. I agree with your sentiments regarding this game.....it's just not a new problem.

Syd Barnes' entire career statistics are terribly influenced by his last test series on artifical pitches in South Africa.

I couldn't agree more! Some 'legends' of the game with terriffic bowling / batting performances got these against the Bangladeshis of their day - SA and NZ. George Lohman was another who cashed in as well as Barnes. That's not to denigrate these great players, it's just to say that they played what was put in front of them and did the business - as should we, right now.

However, if a Bangladeshi gets a 50 or a 100 or a 5 wkt haul, he should be appluaded from the rooftops 'cos he's stepped up a level. They're here, we can't change it and they should only get better by playing against better players.

However, what I would say is that they should have had a 2 year qualifying period against everyone elses 'A' Teams. If they won more that thy lost, then they should have been given test status, not before.

It's all politics I'm afraid chaps!