For the umpteenth time: Mushfiq at 8?

[AsifTheManRahman]

How many runs have we missed out on in the last couple of months? Include in those figures singles that were deliberately denied to retain strike and what could have been had it not been for the lack of partners. We could very well have seen a couple of conversions instead of those fifties and sixties.

So, remind me why Mushfiq is batting at #8. Otherwise, it's time for a revamp.

[Murad]

Mushy should bat at 6th position where Mehrab bats. Mehrab is useless. Plays the tests like OD's..plays ODs like 6-day tests.

Mehrab should be dropped and an allrounder could replace him (Nayeem/Riyad).

[cricman]

It seems the Top 5 sans Rock Like to attack and don't have a clue how to play spin (Z probably does and Maybe Rock sans Murali)

Stick him at Seven

I'd rather have our 3 best batsmen face the old ball I like Ash, Shakib and Mushy batting down

It's like having insurance

[Tehsin]

If this wasn't enough to wake the selectors up, I don't know what is. What else does Mushy have to do to move up the order? A quick shuffle could make the difference in the second test. The only good thing is that Mushy is still very young.

[Nadim]

Originally Posted by muradnyc
Mushy should bat at 6th position where Mehrab bats. Mehrab is useless. Plays the tests like OD's..plays ODs like 6-day tests.

Mehrab should be dropped and an allrounder could replace him (Nayeem/Riyad).

agree.whenever i see m.jr in test he play like 20-20 and give way his wk and when he play in OD.play like test. but his got talent.he need to use his brain

[Tehsin]

Once Ash controls his own demons, he may be able to be the mentor that most of these new kids need to succeed in international cricket. The big problem with Ash has been his maturity. Ash still bats and acts like an 18 year old. You fix him, the rest will follow.

Originally Posted by nadim 98
agree.whenever i see m.jr in test he play like 20-20 and give way his wk and when he play in OD.play like test. but his got talent.he need to use his brain

[yaseer]

Play one more bowler in the team....eventually Mushfiq will get a promotion in the order. I still think we are playing a bowler short and we need that to balance the team.

Play Enamul instead of Mehrab/Imrul in Chittagong.

[AsifTheManRahman]

Originally Posted by yaseer
Play one more bowler in the team....eventually Mushfiq will get a promotion in the order. I still think we are playing a bowler short and we need that to balance the team.

Play Enamul instead of Mehrab/Imrul in Chittagong.

Yes, either Mehrab or Imrul needs to sit out, not because they've sinned more than the rest, but because we are simply playing too many batsmen. The bowling has certainly been lacking options lately.

[Nadim]

Originally Posted by AsifTheManRahman
Yes, either Mehrab or Imrul needs to sit out, not because they've sinned more than the rest, but because we are simply playing too many batsmen. The bowling has certainly been lacking options lately.

agree.

[yaseer]

To win a test match the primary thing is, you have to get 20 wickets. So only strengthening the batting won't help.

By the way, I am very happy that we have got a bunch of players whom we can play for long time. We must stick to these bunch for some time, I am sure they can give us some results in near future. The most important thing is that, these bunch seems to use their head better and also understands the game a bit better than the previous bunch.

[cricket_pagol]

Next test, enamul will come in place of rajib... mushy needs to be promoted to atleast number 7. He is more than capable of holding up one end, which we badly need in test matches.

As for mehrab, i think he has become more confident about his game. As he improves his shot selection, he will become a formidable batsman.

[Huda]

For the first time we have seen the true character of our players, it was a brave brave effort showed by the whole batting line up. The players stood to be counted and delivered what was an impossible dream to making it into reality. Maybe just maybe the boys are turning into men. Playing Murali and co on a 5th day pitch is no joke and they way he was neutralized takes special talent, temperament and application. We saw all three aspects from Ash, Shakib and Mushfiq. If they can keep on doing this, then the dreams that were shattered today will become reality not in the too distant future. Let's build on this for the next test, that is how improvement works, lets not take one step forwards and two back, but keep going forwards and taking further steps to that elusive win.

[Miraz]

I don't want to see any change in the playing XI. Probably Sajedul can come in place of Shahadat, but I would give him one last chance.

Mushy and Mehrab should interchange their positions in the batting order, the rest is fine.

[abu2abu]

In chittagong (or are we playing at Bogra?) we will need two decent spinners. I don't think Mehrab's offbreaks are up to the mark, so enamul should come in to the side. I like the way shahdat, Mahbubul and mortaza bowled, and it would be a shame if one of them had to make way for Enamul. But we need two spinners so something has got to give...

[mahbubH]

I know that we are playing one batsman more but given the current level of our team, we can play one more batsman than required. When we regularly fight with other teams, we can bring one bowler in place of a batsman of the current team. I think Mehrab's footwork is nice and can play well spinners, he should be kept in the team. And Imrul does not get out cheaply, which is a good characteristics for a BD batsman. So keep all the batsmen in the next test!!

[cric crazy]

Agree, Mushfique MUST be sent up the order.
Also, Mashrafe should bat one down, as far too often he comes in and gets out immediately.

[WarWolf]

mush should come at no. 6. Mehrab should be replaced with Naeem in the next test if he is fit to play.

[bdchamp20]

Drop Imrul.

[Dhurr]

Most of you are missing the point. What good will dropping another batsman or adding another bowler do to give Mushfiq more time in the middle with other specialist batsmen?

OK, you drop a batsman, add another bowler and Mushfiq moves up from number 8 to number 7. He still ends up batting with the tailenders, which means the same problems Asif mentioned in the first post are gonna be there.

Move Mushfiq up the order to 4 and drop Ashraful down. Ashraful has a decent innings every 8 innings or so, and he does it regardless of who is on the other end, i.e. he plays like a lower-middle order batsman. He plays his shots whether there is Rajib or Raqib on the other end. Mushfiq cannot do that. He needs a capable partner on the other end so he at least has a chance to build an innings. So move Mushfiq up to 4 and move Ashraful down the order as the last specialist batsman.

[sbsash]

Mushfiq should bat at 3 or 4

[bdchamp20]

Ideal Test line-up:
Tamim
Mehrab Jr.
Zunaed
Raqibul
Mushfiq+
Ashraful*
Riyad
Shakib
Mashrafe
Sajidul
MA Robin

[bujhee kom]

Originally Posted by muradnyc
Mushy should bat at 6th position where Mehrab bats. Mehrab is useless. Plays the tests like OD's..plays ODs like 6-day tests.

Mehrab should be dropped and an allrounder could replace him (Nayeem/Riyad).

murad bhai, you are absolutely right, you spoke my mind!

[Shoikoth]

this 1 step logic that many of us are using here is simply confounding. Mushfiq would not have done any better than those who are already at the top order. there is no stop gap solution - we need to give our real batsmen the time to grow up and keep using ash and mushfiq somewhat down the order where they can capitalize on our opponent's more relaxed moments.

ashraful bats at # 5 and Mushfiq at #6 or 7, back to back with Shakib al Hasan. This will be a darn good middle order who have to endure nothing but the older ball.

and the top order being tammy, imi, zuni and rocky. Mehrab or Naeem can drop to 8, with the last 3 slots going to mashy, shady, mahby, and enamul per form and location.

the pivot to this success lies on Shakib al hasan continuing with his bowling form.

[RazabQ]

The first rational statement. Mushy is fine where he is. Our top order needs to do better.

[al Furqaan]

Originally Posted by RazabQ
The first rational statement. Mushy is fine where he is. Our top order needs to do better.

i will agree for now.

rahim, might need to move up to number 7 and have mehrab slog away at 8, or something.

but eventually (at the current rate within the next 12 months) rahim will have to move to top 4 (4th position).

ash is no top 4, so he stays at 5 for now.

tamim, imrul, junaid, rahim, ash, sakib, mehrab/naeem is what the ultimate order should be.

not sure if imrul can stick it out on seaming tracks but we'll see...