Bangladesh v England

[Carlos J]

Tension.

[subsub]

Drama.

[Carlos J]

234/7 needing 286.

[subsub]

Eight down

[mark]

Did someone mention a 2 day test ?

Should be an interesting day 4 tomorrow.

Very strong position

And into a 5th day it will go.

[Lou Grant]

Bangladesh will struggle to make 200 here.

No way will Bangladesh get anywhere near 275.

I think this test proves none of us know much about anything - one thing I do know is that England need to start playing a proper wicket keeper. Bairstow is a legend with the bat, but he isn't even close to being able to keep wicket. It's embarrassing and needs to be stopped.

[Reg]

Bangladesh will struggle to make 200 here.

No way will Bangladesh get anywhere near 275.

I think this test proves none of us know much about anything - one thing I do know is that England need to start playing a proper wicket keeper. Bairstow is a legend with the bat, but he isn't even close to being able to keep wicket. It's embarrassing and needs to be stopped.

One costly drop but otherwise he's been very good during the whole match.

[Lou Grant]

No, his keeping to the spinners has looked poor at times. I've seen a few he's barely kept hold of. We've got such depth in batting that we can afford to play a proper keeper, even if they were batting at 11.

Also, that one drop may well be the difference in the outcome of the test. Obviously he keeps his place as a batsman, but the keeping is awful.

[Lou Grant]

Although I have money on an England win, in the grand scheme of things a win for Bangladesh would be immense. We need to see these 'lesser' nations progress, to give more variety and global reach to the game. The series over there 5 years ago was poor, but they are now a decent team and this has been a well contested match.

If they got a significant scalp in beating England, hopefully the idiots that run world cricket for their own interests (India/England/Australia) might be shamed into allowing other nations a fair crack. The last test Bangladesh played was about 15 months ago. In the same period I would imagine England have had about 15 tests.

[tennisman]

Although I have money on an England win, in the grand scheme of things a win for Bangladesh would be immense. We need to see these 'lesser' nations progress, to give more variety and global reach to the game. The series over there 5 years ago was poor, but they are now a decent team and this has been a well contested match.

If they got a significant scalp in beating England, hopefully the idiots that run world cricket for their own interests (India/England/Australia) might be shamed into allowing other nations a fair crack. The last test Bangladesh played was about 15 months ago. In the same period I would imagine England have had about 15 tests.

Very good points, Lou.

Bangladesh have made huge strides recently, as did Sri Lanka when they came into the top domain in the early 1980's.

But having read one of Gideon Haigh's recent books about the corridors of power in the ICC, BCCI etc, I don't think we'll be seeing an broader and more all inclusive approach to running the sport anytime soon, unfortunately.

Cricket is almost the reverse of football if only exemplified by cricket's power elite seeking to cut down the number of participants in their World Cup finals whilst FIFA are coming out with plans which look like they are trying to get as many of their members into their finals as possible, albeit for one knock-out match.

[subsub]

Bangladesh will struggle to make 200 here.

No way will Bangladesh get anywhere near 275.

I think this test proves none of us know much about anything - one thing I do know is that England need to start playing a proper wicket keeper. Bairstow is a legend with the bat, but he isn't even close to being able to keep wicket. It's embarrassing and needs to be stopped.

I'm amazed they've got so close, and hats off to them.
I think England will nick it - the fresh start tomorrow will suit them, I think.

[subsub]

Although I have money on an England win, in the grand scheme of things a win for Bangladesh would be immense. We need to see these 'lesser' nations progress, to give more variety and global reach to the game. The series over there 5 years ago was poor, but they are now a decent team and this has been a well contested match.

Well said.

[Jonathan]

Just a shame that only one man and his dog is watching. I doubt the dog will show tomorrow.
Sadly only one day cricket interests the majority and that's not going to change.
Great advert for test cricket as well.

[Reg]

No, his keeping to the spinners has looked poor at times. I've seen a few he's barely kept hold of. We've got such depth in batting that we can afford to play a proper keeper, even if they were batting at 11.

Also, that one drop may well be the difference in the outcome of the test. Obviously he keeps his place as a batsman, but the keeping is awful.

Well, that's a very harsh and unfair assessment in my opinion.

He's not a world-class keeper but he is improving all the time, and doing a decent job.

[Lou Grant]

Harsh, but in the sub continent where you play 3 spinners (& Root), then you need a proper keeper. If Batty can be played as a specialist out here, regardless of age, then the same should be true for someone like Foster. He's also hardly the worse batsmen in the world either.

Return to Buttler (or Bairstow if you really must) in the summer.

[The End]

You can get away with a batsman-keeper in England and Australia, but in Asia you need a keeper first and foremost.

I still think we'll nick it tomorrow though.

[AlcoholBrazil]

Out of jail, but not a win to celebrate. Must do better. They were never going to get Sabbir out, so thankfully the tail-enders faltered
in the end.

[subsub]

Out of jail, but not a win to celebrate

England win!

[AlcoholBrazil]

Yes like scoring a last minute penalty against San Marino to win 1-0. Let's crack open the champagne. Sub.

[Lou Grant]

Bangladesh are a proper test team. To compare them to San Marino is just proof of what little cricket knowledge you have. In the few tests they have been granted in recent years they have matched South Africa (two drawn tests), given Pakistan a good game (one draw, one defeat) and come mighty close to beating England. Also they are currently without arguably their best pace bowler in Mustafizur Rahman who has been injured in recent months.

For comparison, recent San Marino scores are losses by 10-0, 4-0, 4-1 (and 1-0 to the mighty Azerbaijan.)

[AlcoholBrazil]

Bollocks ! They are on a par with Zimbabwe and Ireland in the cricketing stakes, especially in Tests.
England played they didn't want to be there.

[subsub]

Bollocks ! They are on a par with Zimbabwe and Ireland in the cricketing stakes, especially in Tests.
England played they didn't want to be there.

Showing your ignorance, I'm afraid.

South Africa couldn't beat them (drew 0-0 in a two-Test series last year), nor could India (also in 2015).
Likening them to San Marino is an absurd (and inaccurate) comparison.

[AlcoholBrazil]

Some teams want it more than others. Playing a lesser nation and the players tend to drop down a gear.
Bangladesh is just a "Little Chef" stop on the way to India.

[subsub]

Some teams want it more than others. Playing a lesser nation and the players tend to drop down a gear.
Bangladesh is just a "Little Chef" stop on the way to India.

Ah, that'll be it.

[Lou Grant]

Playing a lesser nation and the players tend to drop down a gear. Bangladesh is just a "Little Chef" stop on the way to India.

So who dropped down a gear? Did Moeen have his feet up? Was Bairstow just cruising at the crease? Did Broad just rattle off that long spell yesterday at half pace? Did Stokes dash off a careless innings on Saturday before heading to the hotel bar?

I do respect your right to have daft opinions though.