Shakib Calls for Stronger First-Innings Performance
Bangladesh senior cricketer Shakib Al Hasan emphasized on displaying ‘better batting performance’ in the second and final cricket Test against India, starting tomorrow at Green Park in Kanpur. According to Shakib, the good show in the first innings of a Test determines the course of a match in most of the cases.
"The Chennai Test finished in three and a half days and it’s not ideal for us," Shakib told reporters in Kanpur today. “I think still we played really well in patches but we are a better team than what the result showed. The next Test is another opportunity for us to show our potential against a tough Indian side.”
Bangladesh were bowled out for 149 runs in the first Test in Chennai and couldn’t recover from that abysmal performance, which was key in their 280-run defeat eventually. “There was some improvement if we talk about batting only. In the first innings we were bundled out four 150 (149) but in the second innings we scored around 250 (234). It’s a good sign, comparing to the strength of the Indian bowling,” he said, adding that scoring 350 to 400 in the first innings of the second Test will give them edge over India.
Bangladesh came into the series, high on confidence following 2-0 sweep over Pakistan. But Shakib noted the gulf of difference between Pakistan and India in terms of the strength and experience. “Pakistan was relatively an inexperienced side,” he said. “Even as a team we were more experienced than Pakistan and that was the massive factor.”
“In case of India, the thing is totally different. While they are invincible at home, they have the depth in their bowling attack and batting.” He continued saying: “India are also doing well outside home as well. There is no wonder why they are on the top of the ICC Test Championship point table. Any country finds India always difficult and we are no exception.”
"I think India is the toughest tour these days. Other teams may lose one or two games at their own backyard, but we hardly see India losing Tests in their own den," he remarked. But Shakib feels if Bangladesh can play really well, they will be able to put India under pressure. The Kanpur pitch is similar to what Bangladesh gets in Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium. It is believed that the slow and low Kanpur pitch will play to Bangladesh’s favour. Shakib is unfazed about the pitches, saying that playing against a team like India means the result will depend more on skill and execution than the conditions.
"We are up against an Indian side, suited with every weapon to combat against any opponents on any condition,” he said. “I don't think the pitch will have any effect. We just have to perform better than we did in Chennai," Shakib concluded.
