Why is Ashraful batting at no. 3?

[fwullah]

Why is the team management continuing to let Ashraful bat at number three position?

After his recent poor performance with the bat in Kenya for Bangladesh A team, and also after his many failures at the top of the order, why isn't he allowed to bat down the order - say at number 6 position?

Most of his test career, Ashraful has batted at number four or number five position. In fact, his debut test match, in first innings, he came in to bat at numberSEVEN. It was only after watching his top score in that innings that he was promoted to number six - before Durjoy.

It is always shameful to see that the team management always puts the new players into the top order. It was OK to let the new players play at the top order when there are no established openers or top order players in the side.

But now - we have three specialist batsman - Rokon, Gullu and Sumon - all are top order batsman. So, why does Sumon come down at number four to give Ashraful a chance to bat at number three?

Also, Sumon - at the moment is our best test batsman over the years - not counting his recent slight out of form in the last one day series against Sri Lanka - he has the best batting average in test matches.

So, why not give Sumon the chance to play for maximum number of overs to bat on always?


I can understand that Sumon goes down the order sometimes to fill out the balance of experience in absence of Bulbul and Akram in the middle order, but we need specialist batsman who are comfortable against spinners and/or play well with the slightly older ball.

And Ashraful - so far, has played the Sri Lankan bowlers much better than any of our specialist batsman - and that with the old ball as well as the fact that most of the Sri Lankan bowlers are spinners including Muttiah Muralitharan.

[fwullah]

If Ashraful is batting at top of the order because of his lack of seriousness as well as that he hits a ball and can be used as a pinch-hitter, then why not let him open all the time?

Rokon is not succeeding in pinch-hitting, and also Ashraful is a leg spinner - which adds to the bowling line up sometimes although his economy rate is not as good to call him an allrounder just yet.

On the other hand, Rokon does not bowl - he is only a specialist batsman. The only difference between Rokon and Ashraful now is in their age and experience.

[Mahmood]

I think Ash was sent to bat at 3 because of his ability to defend. How many times have we seen ash bat for a long time, with minimal score?

As usual, he cant score when we need that, he cant stall when we need that.

[fwullah]

Ashraful will not play against Australia. Talha Jubair and Fahim Muntasir are the other two players left out of the first eleven.

Which means Mazharul will definitely play. I am looking forward to see him on TV.

[James90]

The two players I were looking forward to watching play were Ash and Muntasir

[fwullah]

I know the reason and the explanation of not playing Ash, but I still can't figure out why is Fahim Muntasir not playing in any ODI match, especially on turning tracks like Sri Lanka.