Well Played Tigers!!! And some observations

[DJ Sahastra]

Regardless of what many fans feel, i feel that BD team proved much more than what they had set out to. A win would've been tremendous boost and (a possible exile for me for next 6 months given some very agressive fans on this forum ) but it would be incorrect if i didn't say this - BD team more than deserved to win even if i am relieved that they didn't.

280+ is a defendable score on any pitch on any day - you just need to be on the right side of efforts and luck - both of which deserted BD at some time of the game.

Well played Tigers and bravo, even if it is a small consolation. My heart goes out to Farhad Reza and couple of players who have become instant villians - they just had a bad day and this will be their baptism with the cruel aspect of Cricket. Had bangladesh won - something that they seemed very likely at one point - the same fate would have befallen the fielder who dropped Kapol Kapali.

As for the Alaukik Kapol Kapali (the AKK), what he did didn't come as a surprise or an exception to someone who has observed his actual batting in a few matches ( some in which he did score and many in which he didn't score much). What was surprising and unbelievably surprising was what he didn't or couldn't do for so long. I am not sure yet if his inning of yesterday may have cleared up all his mental issues, but good luck to him and team Bangladesh.

Also, i feel BD team management will be better served using him for what he is - essentially an exceptionally skilled bits and pieces player instead of a specialist batsman or a specialist bowler. I feel he was thorougly mishandled by Whatmore and also, it was a a grave injustice to drop him based on his average show in T20s after he had done enough in the domestic circles to warrant a place in ODIs. Not that he helped his cause but then again T20 shouldn't have become the benchmark for a player who has fought hard to make a comeback.

Finally, i believe that Jamie Siddons has the right ideas for the long term. Once BD team starts scoring in 250s consistently, there will be more wins and not just the flashy ones. And going by the likes of Rakibul, Saqibul, Ahraful (with his changed approach) showing a tad more consistency and probably on their way to the three pillars of future BD middle-order, i sense that to be happening more often than not. If flashy Kapali, Aftab and Tamim can add their X-factor occassionally, you may as well see scores in 275+ or even 300s against top teams.

My heart also goes out for the lone warrior - Mashrafe. He needs more support from the field and hope he'll get it.

Pagla Baba has asked for SN to be sent to him for a therapy session. If BD team permits, then you'll probably have a good opening line-up as well.

Once again, Kudos Tigas.

[thebest]

DJ,
I wanted my team to be Germany/ Italy; Play ugly but win; Not Brazil/ Spain/Netherland. It does not matter how good we play. We lost. For me it did not hurt much (I still feel the pain remembering Multan, Fatulla) as from the very beginning I was saying we may score 250 but our opponent would score 350 with our bowling strategy.

[cricket_dorshok]

Thanks DJ. You have summarized nicely.

[al Furqaan]

280 is defensible against any other team, even on flat wickets. even india. the difference is that india will chase it down more often than other sides. plus we really missed the bowling of rasel and saqib. at any rate, it was a hopeful performance from the boys, and they should be inspired to crack 250 against SL tomorrow, since they scored 226 without even trying. thats the biggest difference. with a new alok, raqib, tamim, BD is now capable of scoring 270+ any given day, something which was not possible even 6 months back.

on certain days, 350 will not be enough to defend against team India. other days 283 could be defended, with or without ease. just remember pakistan - whose bowlers aren't much better than ours (given we play rasel and saqib) defended 315 in the kitply cup final.

[One World]

Good read DJ, heart warming post!

[BANFAN]

After the WC 2007, this was expected to be the normal transformation of the team. JS through his team rules, lowered targets, tactical misakes and playing for not winning strategy have only delayed the process. Yet to see the JS strategies working.

Thanks DJ for being with our time.