By Gaurang
February 3 2017

Contrary to some suggestions that India has snubbed Bangladesh by not hosting them for a Test series for over 16 years since their Test debut back in 2000, which incidentally occured versus India, the BCCI which was instrumental in getting Bangladesh Test status has been a benefactor for the Bangladesh cricket board all these years since.

The host country gets the lion's share of any TV rights money that a series brings...and by holding all bi-lateral series IN Bangladesh so far the BCCI has given the Bangladesh Cricket Board five chances at making a ton of money without once seeking the moolah itself.   The expenses that the host nation bears in terms of venue preparation, hotels, etc. is mostly made up by the large crowds at the games and the TV money they get from hosting India is icing on the cake which probably pays for several years of board expenses each time India plays in Bangladesh. 

Of course the largesse was not all from a sense of noblesse oblige by the BCCI.  The BCCI would have had to compensate the Test center in India which hosted a India v. Bangladesh Test match, which in the past many were not ready to host because of the perceived one-sidedness of the contest and the consequent lack of crowds and gate receipts.  Kolkata could have been an exception to this, but in any case now the Bangladesh team has shown that it can compete not just on tailor made turning tracks at home, but even on seaming tracks in places like New Zealand, so it will bring in the fans regardless of where it plays.  

The historic first India v. Bangladesh Test, and it IS historic, despite the protests of the Bangladeshi skipper who insists it is just another game is set to be played in Hyderabad from February 9 -13.  And who can blame Mushfiqur for taking this stance?  He is just lowering the expectations of his fans, so that even a decent performance by his side, such as pushing India to the full five days will be seen as a great moral victory and if perchance India still cruise to a win, it will be just another match...no big deal.

This writer however feels that Bangladesh is likely to present as much of a challenge as England did recntly in Indian conditions.  Bangladesh's spin bowling which is in the capable hands of the veteran all rounder Shakib al Hasan and the newbie Mehedi Hassan will be of top class.  While their batsmen will be better at countering Indian spin than the Englishmen were.   If the picth is more pace friendly Bangladesh will be challenged a bit more, especially since they will be missing their star pacer Mustafizur in this historic one-off Test.

The Test has much to offer and much for the Indian fan to look forward to, not the least the rivalry between the two best all rounders in Test matches today, in Ravi Ashwin and Shakib al Hasan, though Ravi Jadeja and Jayant Yadav may also have something to say about it.  Anyway taking Bangladesh lightly is not recommended, and doing so may lead to an unexpected turning of the tables.  Bangladeshi fans will be fervently hoping for that while Indian fans will be hoping that Virat keeps the winning streak going, not the least because India will next be facing Australia as they try and reclaim the Border Gavaskar Trophy.

Bangladesh Finally Make Their Indian Debut

Discussion started by Indian Cricket Fever (IP Logged), 03/02/2017 19:25

Indian Cricket Fever
03/02/2017 19:25

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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2017:03:08:19:50:34 by Birbal.

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Birbal
05/02/2017 03:01

The two day warm up start in an hour...

Is that enough prep for the Bangladeshis?

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Akbar
05/02/2017 03:17

I agree. It is going to be a well contested game. Bangladesh have some excellent players.

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Birbal
06/02/2017 19:21

If the warm up game is anything to go by...then Bangladesh are in BIG trouble...

Three India A players... the three rising stars... Priyank Panchal, Shreyas Iyer and Vijay Shankar SMASH 100s against the visitors...

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Birbal
06/02/2017 23:08

Now news that Imrul Kayes their opener is out with a thigh injury... He was a dogged character in the Anshuman Gaekwad mode.... no great batting average, but a good foil to Tamim Iqbal...

So big blow to Bangla..

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Birbal
08/02/2017 19:15

The First Test starts in about 8 hours... at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium in Hyderabad....

The ground seems a balanced one with something for bowlers and batsmen...

2 out of 3 Tests played there won by India... with one draw...

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Birbal
09/02/2017 15:45

Some mistakes on the basics... and Bangladesh are looking down the barrel... India in keeping with their mantra of never letting the foot off the pedal... plunder 70 odd runs in the last 10 overs of the day...

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Birbal
10/02/2017 14:53

Bangladesh in deep doo doo... will have to battle their guts out if they want to even save the match...

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Birbal
10/02/2017 17:46

Of the 6 session in the match so far... NONE has been won by Bangladesh... they are way behind... and need to win at least 3-4 sessions to catch up...

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Akbar
11/02/2017 01:38

How is Umesh already reversing the ball? Ball is not even 15 overs old.

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Birbal
11/02/2017 18:54

Yes quite amazing.. but clearly the ball was shiny one side and rough the other...

I think maybe Ishant bowled cross seam to begin with and also got hit around which helped the ball wear down on one side...while the Indian team kept the ball shiny on the other..

Umesh's spell was tremendous to watch... it is really some sort of bias that classifies him as Right Arm Fast MEDIUM... while some one like Mohammad Amir who is no way quicker than him is classified as Left Arm FAST...



Edited 4 time(s). Last edit at 2017:02:11:22:47:49 by Birbal.

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Akbar
12/02/2017 03:38

Umesh is right arm fast. No doubt about that.
Zaheer was always classified as left arm fast.

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Birbal
12/02/2017 18:36

Naah cricinfo had Zaheer at LFM... seems Indians can NEVER be FAST... bloody biased Cr@pinfo...

Anyway, Ishant also topped 145 a couple of times and was bowling around 140... even Bhuvi was around 135... and occasionally near 140...

Mohammad Shami easily clocked over 140 throughout the matches he played...

Heck even Hardik Pandya clocked 140+ and so did Jasprit Bumrah in the limited over games...

If we throw in Varun Aaron who clocked over 150... I think India has pace bowling resources to be among the best in the world...

I see this as being product of brilliant coaching by Anil Kumble... It helps so much to have a Coach who was a GREAT bowler himself... and also so close in age to the team... he is well respected and has gelled the bowling unit tremendously...

India has never had issues with its batting...

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Birbal
13/02/2017 17:19

As predicted Bangladesh fought hard...even harder than England...but India prevailed in the end...

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Birbal
13/02/2017 17:44

8 wins in 9 Tests... with one draw... The Virat Steamroller chugs along....



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2017:02:14:18:23:16 by Birbal.

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