Bangladesh seek revival after first Test flop
Hosts look for all-round improvement against Sri Lanka <br />
in Chittagong.
Bangladesh, at the bottom of the Test rankings at number 10, have lost 68 of their 82 Tests since gaining full status in 2000. PHOTO: AFP
CHITTAGONG:
Bangladesh are looking for an all-round improvement as they try to bounce back from a massive defeat in the first Test against Sri Lanka when the second and final match starts on Tuesday.
The hosts were annihilated by an innings and 248 runs inside four days in Dhaka last week, having been bowled out for 232 and 250 in good batting conditions in which Sri Lanka piled up 730 for six.
Mahela Jayawardene led the way with an unbeaten double-century and two others scored hundreds as Bangladesh conceded their highest Test total in another morale-sapping loss.
Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan said his team-mates had put the setback behind them and looked forward to playing a good Test in Chittagong.
“Everyone was a bit down and sad after the loss in Dhaka, but they are fine now and focused on the next match,” said Shakib.
“We have come back from situations like these before so we have that experience. But we have to improve in all aspects, especially the fielding.”
Shakib said each of the high-scoring Sri Lankan batsmen, including Jayawardene, were let off in the field through dropped catches or missed stumpings.
“Had we grasped those opportunities, they may not have scored more than 500 runs,” he said.
Eranga, Herath ruled out
Sri Lanka bowlers Rangana Herath and Shaminda Eranga will miss the second Test injuries, team management has confirmed.
Herath has suffered a recurrence of a knee injury, while Eranga has strained a quad muscle in the approach to the match. Both will return to Sri Lanka on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, veteran Kumar Sangakkara expected another match-winning performance by his team, but refused to take victory for granted.
“We’re pretty much used to Bangladesh putting up a good fight,” he said. “The earlier game may have been easier than we thought it would be, but we expect it to be different here.”
Published in The Express Tribune, February 4th, 2014.
Bangladesh are looking for an all-round improvement as they try to bounce back from a massive defeat in the first Test against Sri Lanka when the second and final match starts on Tuesday.
The hosts were annihilated by an innings and 248 runs inside four days in Dhaka last week, having been bowled out for 232 and 250 in good batting conditions in which Sri Lanka piled up 730 for six.
Mahela Jayawardene led the way with an unbeaten double-century and two others scored hundreds as Bangladesh conceded their highest Test total in another morale-sapping loss.
Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan said his team-mates had put the setback behind them and looked forward to playing a good Test in Chittagong.
“Everyone was a bit down and sad after the loss in Dhaka, but they are fine now and focused on the next match,” said Shakib.
“We have come back from situations like these before so we have that experience. But we have to improve in all aspects, especially the fielding.”
Shakib said each of the high-scoring Sri Lankan batsmen, including Jayawardene, were let off in the field through dropped catches or missed stumpings.
“Had we grasped those opportunities, they may not have scored more than 500 runs,” he said.
Eranga, Herath ruled out
Sri Lanka bowlers Rangana Herath and Shaminda Eranga will miss the second Test injuries, team management has confirmed.
Herath has suffered a recurrence of a knee injury, while Eranga has strained a quad muscle in the approach to the match. Both will return to Sri Lanka on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, veteran Kumar Sangakkara expected another match-winning performance by his team, but refused to take victory for granted.
“We’re pretty much used to Bangladesh putting up a good fight,” he said. “The earlier game may have been easier than we thought it would be, but we expect it to be different here.”
Published in The Express Tribune, February 4th, 2014.