Samaraweera: the unsung Villian?

[EmperorHawk]

"We are keeping him," Akram told BDnews24.com. "Everyone is positive about him. The coach wants him to stay back, and so does everyone else. He also doesn't have any reservations about it."

Samaraweera joined Bangladesh ahead of the Afghanistan series for a stint that was initially to run until the end of the England series. But now he will be part of the coaching staff for the tours to New Zealand, India, Sri Lanka, Ireland and England in the upcoming seven months.

http://www.espncricinfo.com/banglade...y/1064304.html

He joined right before we started transforming back into the puran BD side, starting with Afganisthan. At the time, it looked like a fluke - guy had just joined. Now, the transformation in our batting has perfect correlation with the one variable that changed after 2016WCT20 - Sammu bhai.

As hard as Hathuri tried with his selection, it wasn't that which made us lose against NZ,Eng,Afg - it was our batting.

Thoughts?

[NoName]

There hasn't been one single improvement in our batting during his stint so far, he needs to go. Instead of wasting $$$ on pointless consultants, hire a full-time batting coach.

[EmperorHawk]

^^ You're being too kind. He's had a transformative effect on our batting imo, with some help from 'muscle memory' of our batsmen to revert back to their classic selves.

[adamnsu]

After the consultant came along our batsman started getting out playing rash shots. Coincidence or our batsman just zooming to orbit again after a year of successful of cricket?

[EmperorHawk]

I, and many others in BC have been doing kannakati over HC' selections, but that's only been around 10% responsible for our loss (depending on how much impact you assume Rubel or Miraz woulda had, Nasir I wouldn't even count as a 1-man match winner/saver when others fail). 60% blame goes to batting. 30% to bowling/fielding, imo.

[Rifat]

I have a different theory:

part of the reason why Bangladesh underwent so many batting collapses is because We have been playing T20 nonstop. The second reason being Bangladesh does not have specialized team for each format(apart from Momimul/Shahid playing tests only)...so the same set of players do the same thing in every format not really working out. Only Kayes didn't play T20 apart from BPL and look at his contributions as opposed to the rest.

On the contrary, since start of 2015, We have been playing non-stop ODI practice matches and world cup and then Pakistan series, the momentum kept on building(in 2015) the world cup quarter final loss built up loads of fire in the senior players bellies and a lot of senior players peaked at the right time. Don't hate me for saying this but Bangladesh have not yet mastered all three formats yet(in fact very few test playing nations have like India for example) and even then, they have specialized squads for each formats...

[Eshen]

^^ Good point there Rifat, those rush shots did look like after BPL effect. However, even if you make separate teams for each format, all the players will still play in those lucrative T20 matches home and abroad (for example, our Test specialist Momin playing an aggressive role for Rajshahi). Now, it's part of the responsibility of the coaching staff to help players adjust between formats. Hathuru-Samara should have watched what shots players were playing in BPL, and what adjustments they are making in nets. So far, looks like they failed big time to do either of those.

[EmperorHawk]

Originally Posted by Eshen
^^ Good point there Rifat, those rush shots did look like after BPL effect. However, even if you make separate teams for each format, all the players will still play in those lucrative T20 matches home and abroad (for example, our Test specialist Momin playing a key role for Rajshahi). Now, it's part of the responsibility of the coaching staff to help players adjust between formats. Hathuru-Samara should have watched what shots players were playing in BPL, and what adjustments they are making in nets. So far, looks like they failed big time to do either of those.

Coaches esp. H, displaying a 9-5 job mentality. World doesn't stop spinning when national players clock out and leave the nets. He doesn't want Miraz to get pressured into LOI rythm, but guess what? He cant stop him playing BPL, and that's EXACTLY what happened in BPL. Thinks Soumya's slump is a temporary fluke, but his numerous failures in BPL showed more fundamental issues, irrespective of conditions. They're like teachers who assume kids dont have personal lives and internet access.

[NoName]

Where was Samaraweera during the BPL

[Eshen]

^^ Both could actually watch BPL matches 9-5 sitting at Sydney, at least recording of them if not live. Samara had excuse not to be on a retainer at that point, but Hathuru was getting paid even though he is taking vacations way over alloted days in his contract.

He actually made a very positive impact for Imrul during BPL'15. Imrul was initially struggling in the tourny, but later changed his approach following Hathuru's advice and went on to be the top scorer of that BPL edition. Since then, he also became one of our best ODI players, with the best ODI average for 2016 and SR even better than that of Tamim.

BCB could have easily asked Hathuru to watch the matches from Sydney and provide players some feedback. That would also save them some money not having to send Maruf to Aus-NZ, Hathuru would already know what this guy has to offer from watching him in real matches.

[jeesh]

Samaraweera was to Sri Lanka what Younis Khan is to Pakistan, Rahul Dravid was to India. A methodical, technically correct batsmen. Perhaps BCB and Hathurusingha felt he could improve the technical side of our batters. But so far not a trace of improvement for even one batsman.

I reckon we need a tough character for this role. Someone who will absolutely spoon fed the batsman, the same way Streak worked with our bowlers. Not just work on technique, but give them targets/goals, assign roles etc. This is one way Siddons managed to get consistency from our batsmen.

But perhaps not fair to make him a villain for the teams defeats. I am not happy with Walsh either, but cant blame him for the series defeat either. Rifat bhai's points have great validity too.

[EmperorHawk]

Shobai chup kan re bhai? I almost feel like I made a thread about Keyser Söze from Usual Suspects. Rohosshho ki?

Where is the wrath?

[adamnsu]

Bangladesh batting culture is a strange and helpless one. Yes we have seen glimpses of what the team is capable of, however all together it seems nothing has changed
- no rotating strikes
- no building partnerships, especially when wickets are down
- Using the final power play to advantage
- aggresive running between the wickets
- ball watching
- poor calling

Yes it is easy to point the finger at Samaraweera as he should be tweaking this. However, I still think this culture of ours has to change totally from the youth team.

[Rana Melb]

We need a western coach.. someone like Michael Bevan or Justin Langer type high profile personnel

[Mas_UK25]

Since this dude has come. We have been going backwards starting from Afg odi series. Surprised no one mentioning this dudes poor influence over the batters since he arrived.

Time to bin him for good. Whoever was in the batting coach during '15, bring him back.

[adamnsu]

Originally Posted by Rana Melb
We need a western coach.. someone like Michael Bevan or Justin Langer type high profile personnel

Problem is not many westerners want to come to BD

[Fazal]

The unsung Villain? or the Scape goat?

[jeesh]

Originally Posted by Rana Melb
We need a western coach.. someone like Michael Bevan or Justin Langer type high profile personnel

Actually BCB approached Bevan before Hathurusingha. Bevan only agreed he will come to Dhaka right before tours, and be with the team during tours. Other than that he wanted to be in Australia. He also wanted 30K USD, much above current coach's increased compensation.

It wont be easy attracting big name coaches, everyone can earn by coaching for a month in T20's.

But i wish BCB could bring back Siddons to work at academy level even on part time basis. This is one guy who knew how to fix our batsmen. The technical issues need to be ironed out before the batsmen reach the national team.

[NoName]

Originally Posted by adamnsu
Problem is not many westerners want to come to BD

If Pakistan can secure the services of Mickey Arthur, an Australian, to come to Pakistan and coach their team then I'm sure we can attract Western coaches too. Though I doubt it would make much difference.

[EmperorHawk]

Siddons as batting coach, please. Kick out Samaraweera.

[EmperorHawk]

Originally Posted by adamnsu
Bangladesh batting culture is a strange and helpless one. Yes we have seen glimpses of what the team is capable of, however all together it seems nothing has changed
- no rotating strikes
- no building partnerships, especially when wickets are down
- Using the final power play to advantage
- aggresive running between the wickets
- ball watching
- poor calling

Yes it is easy to point the finger at Samaraweera as he should be tweaking this. However, I still think this culture of ours has to change totally from the youth team.

Good point. Bad batting coach = batsmen struggling in general.
But they didn't seem to be struggling, just suicidal and giving it away. Then again, Nz pitches haven't been the least bit extreme, so any decent batsman shouldn't have been struggling.....idk

[adamnsu]

Originally Posted by NoName
If Pakistan can secure the services of Mickey Arthur, an Australian, to come to Pakistan and coach their team then I'm sure we can attract Western coaches too. Though I doubt it would make much difference.

I doubt we will get a good western coach for a long span who has the capability of changing our cricket.

[simon]

I don't know if he is hiru or bhilen , I just think it's a waste of money, we better sack him.

[adamnsu]

Originally Posted by simon
I don't know if he is hiru or bhilen , I just think it's a waste of money, we better sack him.

I thought it was a 6 month contract? I don't think it will get renewed

[Roey Haque]

You can sack as many coaches as you want, but as long as you have toxic figures like Mooshfeekoor in the dressing room, things will only get worse.