This bunch of no-hopers must be buried to give SA any credibility
Colin Bryden
The worst cricket team in the world, or at least among those with official international status, will provide a chance for South Africa to improve their win-loss ratio over the next month.
Bangladesh have been pathetic since they were granted Test status more than two years ago. They have lost 12 out of 13 Tests, with the exception being a rained-off game against Zimbabwe.
They have been just as bad in one-day cricket. They could break their own world record for most consecutive defeats during the three-match one-day series, which starts in Potchefstroom on Thursday. They are on a streak of 20 losses, going back to their surprise (and suspiciously easy) win over Pakistan in a meaningless match during the 1999 World Cup.
Bangladesh were responsible for the all-time worst sequence in one-day cricket when they lost their first 22 official games between 1985/86 season and a win over Kenya in Hyderabad, India, 12 years later. Kenya, hardly world-beaters, hold a 5-1 edge over Bangladesh.
Test status was granted because of the strong cricket culture in a country with a population of 120 million. One factor that gained Bangladesh entry to cricket's elite was the passionate support of fans who flocked to the 40 000-capacity Bangabandhu Stadium in Dhaka during the ICC Trophy tournament in 1999, even though the host nation was not playing.
For their South African tour, the Bangladesh selectors have jettisoned some of their older players, including two former captains in Akram Khan and Manjural Islam, in the hope that younger players will rise to the challenge. Surprisingly, though, they have dropped Mohammad Ashraful, who became the youngest debutant to score a Test century when, aged 17, he made 114 against Sri Lanka last September.
Ashraful failed to kick on after his initial success and his Test batting average after seven matches is a modest 25.84. Remarkably, however, only Habibul Bashar of the selected players has a better average, if two players who have played only one Test are excluded. Bashar has an average of 35.36 after 13 Tests. Next best is Javed Omar with 25.47.
If the batting numbers make sorry reading, the bowling figures are even worse. Manjurul Islam, the left-arm opening bowler, has the best record, with 22 wickets in 11 Tests at the sorry average of 48.72. A supporter seeking solace in the one-day career records will be disappointed. Not one of the touring party has a batting average above 30. Tushar Imran (28.11) and Javed Omar (27.50) are the only two above 25.
The bowling averages maintain the depressing trend. Only Khaled Mahmud, with 30 at 39.36, has taken wickets at fewer than 40 runs apiece.
Bangladesh made a short tour of South Africa two seasons ago and lost all their matches, a first-class game against Griqualand West by 82 runs and three one-day matches against a South African President's XI. A variety of South African fast bowlers, including Andre Nel, Dewald Pretorius, Charl Langeveldt, Mfuneko Ngam, Charl Willoughby and Justin Kemp, bowled them out for 178, 51 and 57 in the one-day games. Six of the current team, including captain and wicketkeeper Khaled Mashud, were on that trip.
What it means for the South Africans, who folded astonishingly against India in Colombo on Wednesday, is that nothing less than a ruthless annihilation will do.
Beating Bangladesh won't prove anything, but Shaun Pollock needs to get his men to show there is fire in their bellies in this World Cup season. Failure to crush weak opposition will only increase concerns that the South African team have lost their hard edge.
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