Batsmen made team management’s hilarious decision look logical!

Nine regular batsmen, three of whom are all-rounders, and two frontline pacers -- that's how Bangladesh lined up for their one-off Test against Zimbabwe at the Harare Sports Club today. Despite Bangladesh's well-known penchant for making nonsensical decisions, this unusual approach to a Test match by the Tigers' team management still raised many eyebrows on the opening day of the game. 

Such an approach from Bangladesh against a low-ranked Zimbabwe was questionable indeed given that many teams don't even hesitate to employ five specialist batsmen and five specialist bowlers in a Test. However, as the game went by, Bangladesh's long batting line-up seemed to be short and it was the batsmen who showed why the team management could not put their trust in them and ended up making their decision look logical!

Bangladesh, missing their star opener Tamim Iqbal due to a knee injury, were reduced to 8 for two in the wee hours of the day. The Tigers had lost three of their top-order batsmen by the time umpires called for Lunch. And they were reeling at 167 for six at Tea. 

However, the Tigers' blushes were saved through a 138-run seventh-wicket stand between Liton Das and Mahmudullah Riyad as that helped Bangladesh end the day with a respectable score of 294 for eight.   

Bangladesh's Test skipper Mominul Haque plays a shot. Photo: AFP

Only skipper Mominul Haque was able to show some sort of resilience in the middle. However, even his 92-ball 70 was not free of hitches along the way. The left-hander was dropped on 52, courtesy of a misjudgment from the fielder at mid-on who was late to react to what could have been a simple catch. 

But it was Mominul's well-timed flicks and drives that remained as the highlights of an otherwise lacklustre batting display from the top order till the crucial partnership between Mahmudullah and Liton revived Tigers' innings. 

After a 60-run stand between opener Shadman Islam and Mominul had steadied Tigers' innings following an early slump, Bangladesh were looking to recover and make a strong comeback through another promising looking partnership between Mushfiqur Rahim and Mominul. However, their 38-run stand came to an end soon after Lunch when Mushfiqur did not offer a shot to an angling-in Blessing Muzarabani delivery that went to hit his pads. And despite the ball striking Mushfiqur high on his front pads, the umpire obliged with the loud appeal for an LBW. 

Shakib Al Hasan followed Mushfiqur soon when the premier all-rounder needlessly poked at an outside off delivery, edging it back to the wicketkeeper for a simple catch. Mominul's promising knock came to an end as well with Tigers in deep crisis at 132 for six. 

However, Liton and Mahmudullah, who returned to the Test squad after almost 17 months, ensured Bangladesh did not lose anymore wickets before Tea as they started the rebuilding process all over again.

Liton fell agonisingly short of his maiden Test ton but his career-best 95 along with Mahmudullah's unbeaten fifty helped Tigers avoid a humiliating collapse. They batted with ease after Tea. As the cherry had lost its shine, taking the most threatening pacer Muzurabani along with the three other Zimbabwean quicks away from the attack, and the pitch got a bit worn out and easier to bat, the duo of Liton and Mahmudullah started to get on their groove with the two part-time spinners of the hosts posing not much of a threat. 

They showed maturity in understanding the situation and picking their shots according to the merit of the ball, none of which were displayed by any other top-order batsmen except for Mominul. Liton looked the most impressive, playing shots all around the ground, while Mahmudullah certainly made a statement with his unbeaten 54 on his return to the Tigers' Test squad. 

Zimbabwe did finish strong with pacer Donald Tiripano removing Liton and Mehedi Hasan Miraz in back-to-back deliveries just a few overs before the day's end of play.  

Even though Mahmudullah and Liton's resilience would let the Tigers' team management somewhat breathe a sigh of relief, the fact that the top order's failure in Tests continued even in a game that had very little at stake in terms of the outcome as it's not part of the World Test Championship (WTC) should only be alarming for a nation that has been playing Test for more than 20 years.

For a long time, Bangladesh have been struggling to find the blueprint for a Test culture with a suitable mindset and approach towards the game's elite format. But unfortunately, the approach made by team management for this game, even though made look logical by the frail top order, will only prolong Tigers' struggle in the longest format of the game.