BD bowling speeds

[Shubho]

First off, even someone as optimistic and positive as me couldn't help but stare at the heavens in utter disgust and disbelief at our team's batting performance (read 'non-performance'). Well, such is life, I'm afraid. I think we need some specialist batting coaches. Whoever it is that said our strength was in batting (Akram Khan, I believe), well, we now know he was talking out of his a-hole.

Anyway, enough about our batting. As a positive person, I'll concentrate on the positives of our performance. Bowling and fielding - though not immaculate - were well above par, and I've noticed significant improvements. The bowling wasn't at all wayward, except for - ahem - Talha Jubair. Having said that, I think he has some true potential. Just needs to work on consistency, and not get scared out of his wits when he faces world-class batsmen.

I'd also like to take the opportunity to clarify the issue of bowling speeds. Handle pointed out that Tapash Baishya and Manju were averaging 127 kph. This is indeed true. But that translates to 82.5 mph.

The conversion is as follows.

1.54 kms = 1 mile

So...
Tapash and Manju average 82.5 mph.

Talha averaged 130 (= 84.4 mph).

Talha's fastest delivery was 133 kph (= 86.4 kph)! Too bad he was bowling all over the shop, and not at the batsmen.

If Mushfiq and Masri are way faster than that, I'd be overjoyed. I hear Masri managed to top 140 kph in the tour of New Zealand. But I'd hate to speculate.

Well, I hope I've clarified the issue about bowling speeds. Bangladeshi bowlers aren't the fastest in the world, but they're getting ever more competitive. And I'd be the last person to discredit their performances.

By the way, I thought our fielding against NZ was bloody awesome, except in the last four overs or so.

I also think Khaled Mashud is a great captain. He was talking incessantly all throughout the match, but it was all sensible and motivational stuff. Anybody notice the scolding Talha got for misfielding from Pilot? Or the sharp rap Sujon got for being too slow on the field? ("Eto asteh asteh korleh cholbe na, sujon bhai, LOMBA LOMBA PAA!") I couldn't stop laughing at that one.

[Shubho]

My apologies to everyone!

1 mile = 1.61 kms

So...

127 kph = 79 mph (Manju, Tapash avg)

130 kph = 81 mph (Manju's fastest)

133 kph = 83 mph (Talha's fastest delivery)

Not up there with McGrath, Lee, Gillespie or Bond, but respectable nonetheless. At least we bowl faster than the Kenyans! Well, what does it matter, if we can't control line and length?!?!?

[Mahmood]

You actually heard that on tv telecast?

WOW.

[Pundit]

Shubho - thanks for the bowling speeds.

Manju needs to crank up that avg. speed to over 80 mph - that kinda sounds stupid, I know, since he is already there, almost. But that would provide some level of semblance.

I don't remember, did Baisha play in the first game ? If not, where did you get his data ?

Yes, I really see the bowling becoming quite acceptable in 2-3 years from now, but about the batting, GOD help us !!

Like I've said before, we need an expert batting coach and a bowling machine with its dial notched up fairly high upto the 90 mph range. Its not the attitude that only deserves attention, the technique thoroughly requires attention. Who really do you get to face in the local league but a bunch of "trundlers."

The good thing is that you only need 11 good players to maintain respectibility. One way to "fast track" our batsmen is to have them included in first class teams in India/Pak/SL, if that is at all possible. The problem is that this can only happen if the batsmen are already good, like that one Kenyan and Dutch player. Who wants to go to Calcutta or Peshwar and be under-paid just to get a playing opportunity.

So folks, here's my assertion - the batting problem is here to stay, at least for a good while. Sigh, I can't believe I said that. I want them so dearly to do well that I don't even want to believe that.

[Tehsin]

With either Pakistan and India cricket board and have the team play in their first class leagues over a five year or three year period. We can also get the A teams from BD, Pakistan, India and Sri Lanka have a regular tournament arranged by Bangladesh. To them it doesn't matter so WE (BCB) has to take the initiative on this one.

At averages of 79-83, we are definitely way behind on speed but there is no reason why the 'professional' players can't work on their line and length. Professional means this is a profession for them and any professional thrives to be better at what they do. The players have a great deal here, THEY DON'T have to work anywhere else for MONEY. They are TAKEN CARE OF by BCB and the Government. Now, if any of the other countries (Kenya, Canada, USA, Holland, Scotland even) had this sweet system for their players, you would have seen them throwing everything at it on the field.

I am sorry but I think our players are being greedy, they are slacking off and if they were working for a company, the lot would have been fired by now. Only a couple would have managed to make it (pilot for example).

[Ockey]

Everyone is crying out for improvents in batting after the dismal performance. As usual the coaches and the team are under pressure.

I would like to speculate on why our bowlers performed far bette than expected and why the batsmen failed, as they usually do on foreign soil.

In my opinion, the main reason the bowlers was able to retrict NZ to a score of less than 250 was because the ball was turning a lot, which was usual for the batting friendly wicket. Shane Bond commented at the post match conference on the amount of swing he was able to extract, which was not there during the Australia game.

The wickets in Bangladesh are slow and neither produce bounce or turn. Instead of paying for foreign batting coaches, I would recommend that BCB invest that money in creating wickets similar to those in other test playing nations, esp. SA.

How can BD bowlers even learn how to pitch the ball to swing or bounce when the wickets they play on make their efforts futile? After the tour of Zim, Monju was overjoyed to play on a wicket where he could work the ball. He complained of the wickets in Dhaka where the ball would just "roll" to the batsmen.

When Miandad was in BD, he recommended making different kinds of wickets so the batsmen know what to expect when they play abroad. I would take heed of the advice.

India recently decided to replace some the traditionally slow, batting wickets to wickets that would favor bowlers.

If BD is to succeed in foreign soil then they have to either practice regularly on those conditions or bring those conditions at home. Going with the latter option would produce talents that haven't already been discovered.

[Pundit]

So many questions, so few answers !

Big brother Tehsin is so frustrated, he is even talking about the govt.

Sigh.

All hope is lost.

[James90]

Hmmm Tehsin, Pundit and Rajputro are all bros? This is not right is it.
*Sigh* I'm so confused

[Mahmood]

The same way, every aussie is your friend (mate), every Bangladeshi is brothers.

Got the idea? Brother?

[handle]

I saw Tapash against Australia. He bowled between 124-128 kph.

I wonder how fast Masri was - my guess is mid to high 130's. I think what set him apart was his attacking attitude and his understanding of the game.

How much longer do we have to wait for him to come back ?

[Pundit]

Masri bowling at 84-85 mph is actually very good.