The Shakib-Liton batting order conundrum
Bangladesh's batting order and their overall batting plan in the T20I format continue to flummox, with Liton Das and skipper Shakib Al Hasan's batting positions an area which negates Bangladesh's advantage as a batting unit heading into the T20I World Cup in Australia.
"Unless you're a born opener, No. 3 is the best place to bat. If you don't have Bill Lawry and Bob Simpson or Gordon Greenidge and Desmond Haynes -- a highly successful opening partnership -- preceding you, you have the opportunity to establish the pattern of play. You walk out to bat at your own pace and, apart from when there is an immediate setback, you will have had a chance to quickly assess from the pavilion how the pitch is playing," Ian Chappell, the former Australia captain known for his aggressive and resourceful cricket, wrote in a column for ESPNCricinfo in 2015.
While Chappell was not of the opinion that the best batter should bat at number three and the fact that he was referring to Test cricket, however, when it comes to T20Is, the context of what your batting line-up combines into will dictate who can bat at number three. Bangladesh think-tank must get out of the rote idea of just focusing on left and right-handed batting combinations and matchups, which risk the Tigers falling further behind, given the profiles they possess.
Chappell's column holds weight when it comes to the discussion around Shakib's position and therefore, to a certain extent, Liton's as well.
Bangladesh do have their best batter at number three in Liton but it takes away a major advantage of having him in the side. Liton's early career shows that the Powerplay can be about the carnage and acceleration he can provide. Given the available profiles in the current batting order, there are players who can negotiate the middle overs meaningfully. And if Liton carries on, he can still anchor the innings as an opener.
Bangladesh's experiment with two make-shift openers have failed to an extent and Sabbir Rahman was dropped in favour of Najmul Hossain Shanto in the last tri-nation series match against hosts New Zealand on Sunday. Liton anchoring is not a bad thing but when you take away the number of deliveries he can face in the Powerplay, the lack of aggression in that 'impact' cricket that technical consultant Sridharan Sriram wants Bangladesh to embrace, becomes apparent.
Moreover, there is an obvious technical deficiency in Mehedi Miraz, which also negates the impact that an opener is expected to create in T20Is.
Shakib, on the other hand, came into bat at number seven in the New Zealand match. While Afif Hossain's number four position has merit, but by taking away number of deliveries Liton and Shakib can play in an innings reduces much of their impact.
Shakib's 2019 World Cup campaign, albeit in ODI format, shows his ability at the number three spot. One BCB director recently told this reporter how the left-hander had to be convinced to take the spot as he can dictate more from that position.
Shakib can either now choose to open and let Liton continue where he is or take the number three slot, a position from where he can 'establish the pattern of play' that Chappel insisted on.
Shakib has batted at number four in the recently concluded Caribbean Premier League (CPL) and batted at number three in Bangladesh' last tour of West Indies. It was Shakib himself who said after the New Zealand game that the 'top three must raise their hands up and bat till 15th or 16th over.' And now as the skipper, he has the opportunity to do that and raise competitive advantage heading to the World Cup, and the Bangladesh think-tank can begin again from the game against New Zealand tomorrow.
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