Wounded Tigers need calm

When Imrul Kayes picked up the lone fielder on the on-side while pulling Tim Southee in the first morning of the opening Test against New Zealand at Basin Reserve, the gut feeling was that he should be thrown into the Tasman Sea.

But after standing behind the wicket as a sub for injured Mushfiqur Rahim for two days, when he came out to bat with Tamim Iqbal again on the fourth evening and got injured after scoring a fine 24 that interestingly featured a mighty six over mid-wicket against the same bowler, his return to the field on the fifth and final day today is what everyone would desperately want.

The work-horse in the Bangladesh team injured his left thigh while completing a quick single. His departure on a stretcher sparked a collapse as Bangladesh slipped from 46 not loss to 63-3 at stumps on the fourth day, a lead of 122 runs going into the fifth and final day  with seven wickets still standing. But considering the gravity of his injury and his inability to move without any support yesterday, the prospect of his return to bat is gloomy. Besides, with Mushfiqur still recovering from a thumb injury, Bangladesh are technically five wickets down going into the final day. The ideal situation would have been both being rested to prepare for the second Test in Christchurch from January 20.

But with Mominul at the crease and Shakib Al Hasan to come out in the morning, Bangladesh will hugely depend on the two left-handers to bat out the entire morning session apparently to save a Test match in which they were on top for almost four days.

Although Mushfiqur batted in the nets on the fourth morning and was sitting at the dressing room with his pads on, he will not be able to stand behind the wicket even if he comes out to bat today. The condition of Imrul was not at all inspiring.

When he returned to the team hotel at around 9:00 pm last night after having the X-ray, a barefooted Imrul descended from a high van on crutches. Getting the information that he has returned Mushfiqur came down to take him to his room. Imrul moved along on the support and was not able to land his left foot on the ground. Although there was no fracture, he needs a miracle for the pain to alleviate quickly, and that steely resolve if he is to come out and bat again. But that possibility is very slim.

The duo's respective injuries also put the Bangladesh think-tank in a dilemma about the third keeper if they are to field again today. However, the best possible option for Bangladesh in desperate times would be to bat as long as possible, which is not a tough task on a flat wicket. What they need is not to press the panic button.