So how did they do (BD in ZIM Aug 09)

[Raynman]

No grades, just observations:

Tamim Iqbal : Great series and deserving man of the series. Three solid innings (one being a record breaker for Bangladesh) and two duds. I think he works better as the anchoring opener who builds the innings instead of the slogging opener.

Junaid Siddique: Three starts but no follow through. Gave BD a start and Tamim was the beneficiary each time. Don’t agree with the 3rd ODI drop and him not batting even in the top 7 in game 4.

Mohammad Ashraful: Eid and then disappear. A well played century (as always with minimal pressure : good opening stand, small total to chase) and then THUD. 45 in the four innings post century. Started as the highest scorer to be surpassed by Tamim, Rokibul, Mushfiq & Shakib (with the latter two having played one less innings).

Rokibul Hassan: Solid batting, good starts and one conversion to half century. Gave BD hope in the 3rd ODI on what would have been a first 300+ total chase. Looked good at the number 4 after struggling in the WI series. Almost pushed up his average to 30. Only Shakib, SN and **ahem** Mahbubul Alam have better.

Shakib: He really is the accelerator in the team. Not a capable patient innings builder but that shouldn’t be his role in the team. Captaincy was solid with a couple of blips in game 3 and 4 but delivered almost always when needed. Didn’t pick up much wickets but then again he’s not the strike bowler in ODIs. His role is to keep the pressure with low economy. Not bad on a pitch that didn’t offer much to the bowlers. Had it not been for the run out in ODI 2, that century may have been a big one.

Mushfiqur Rahim: All solid innings (23*, 33, 15, 98) and timely. Deserved the century in the last match. Still shakey with the gloves. Should really cement himself as a batsman and let more apt keepers stand behind the wicket.

Mahmadullah Riyad : Played the closer role well in the final two ODIs. Didn’t bowl much.

Naeem Islam : Seemed lost. But probably because his role was not defined. Got to open in the 3rd ODI and was rarely used for bowling. Can’t really judge as he didn’t get a real opportunity to bat in normal circumstances and didn’t bowl as much either.

Enamul Haque Jr.: Got to bowl almost all of his overs the first four matches but wasn’t anything to write home about. Just there, nothing positive, nothing negative.

Nazmul Hossain: Picked up 5 wickets in the first 2 ODIs before injury. Bowled well.

Syed Russel: Bowled economically and opened the bowling well. Not bad in a pitch that offered not much to the bowlers.

Mehrab Hossain Jr.: Not sure why got his quota of 10 in the 3rd ODI. Was used late in the order in 3rd ODI and didn’t need to bat in 5th. Picked up 1 wicket in the final ODI but nothing of significance.

Mahbubul Alam: Expensive but picked up 4 wickets in 2 games and scored a quickfire 59. A duck by Tamim in the final ODI and he would have had the highest batting average this series.

Dollar Mahmud: Good thing he wasn’t kept too far away from the national team. Made most of his call up due to injuries to 4 pacers before him (Mash, Rubel, Nazmul, Alam). Man of the match with 4 wickets in a batting friendly pitch. Should be a confidence booster.

Batting in general : Solid. With the exception of game 3, planning was right. 3 (almost 4) centuries and 5 half centuries

Bowling in general: The pace needs to improve so its justifiable to play 3 of them. If the top 6 click in batting, loading up on batting spinners will not be needed. Can’t fault the bowlers too much in this tour.

Captaincy: Imaginative and innovative. Not always good but got the results and better than anything BD has ever produced. Led from the front and has been a breath of fresh air for Bangladesh cricket.

Team: The team seems to be enjoying playing with each other. A different MOM in every win. Nuff said.