Bangladesh in http://www.senore.com/Cricket/ICC-World-Cup-2011-c100625 WT20 2012 - Tigers ‘caged’ for good? - Part 1 - Opinion
After Bangladesh’s Asia Cup heroics in the 2012 version of the tournament, much was expected from this fiery team that oozes with talent in all three departments. They had suffered from lack of discipline on the field in previous times, but had managed to
resurrect their image in international cricket from 2004 onwards. Bangladesh became a dangerous underdog, and like http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Zimbabwe-c3045, they became notorious for giant killing. The ferocity that was exhibited by Mushfiqur Rahim’s men in the Asia Cup of 2012
however, was frightening for their fellow Asian oppositions, as they played like a professional outfit and shunned away their minnow status. The Bangladeshi batsmen managed to bruise bowling attacks from http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750 and Sri Lanka, with such impunity, that
it was hard to believe that they were not exactly fancied for the title. They also came in touching distance of winning their first major tournament before losing to Pakistan in the adrenaline charged final at Dhaka. That loss by two runs was possibly an incorrect
way of assessing Bangladesh’s performance in that tournament as they became a dangerous team that could wreak havoc on any opposition, if taken lightly.
That performance in the fifty over format aside, Bangladesh had strung in decent performances in Europe against lesser formidable opponents in the T20 format as well. The comprehensive nature of their victories such as the routing of Ireland in Belfast for
example, helped them gain the number 4 rank in the ICC World T20 rankings for teams for a brief period of time. It was thus, perceived in the lead up to the ICC World T20 of 2012 in http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sri-Lanka-c758, that this team would be able to string in a set of surprises by
blowing away oppositions in their group, which are dangerous and unpredictable in nature. However, it wasn’t to be, as http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Bangladesh-c747 played poor cricket with both bat and ball, and crashed out of yet another tournament, without registering a single win under
their belt. For their fans and passionate supporters, this was a damning reality that they had to digest in one way or the other.
With the Monsoon climate, batsman friendly pitches, and a tinge of green on the surfaces in three different cities, Bangladesh did stand a fair chance of at least causing one upset in their Group Fixtures against New Zealand and Pakistan. Their dynamic batting
line up which consists of the likes of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Hasan-c61990, along with their three pronged spin attack, could have posed a serious challenge to teams like New Zealand and Pakistan, who are known to blow hot and cold. What was witnessed instead
however, was hapless bowling, erratic stroke play and terrible fielding, from a team that had promised so much in the lead up to this all important tournament. Bangladesh was simply torn apart by http://www.senore.com/Cricket/New-Zealand-c754, thanks to Brendon McCullum’s dexterity, as he managed
to notch up the highest score ever by a batsman in the format. McCullum thwarted any possibility of the Bangladeshi spinners wreaking havoc on their batting line up as they did in 2010 in the fifty over format, by making a serious statement. McCullum’s onslaught
was characterized by bowlers such as http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Shakib-Al-Hasan-c2492 being deposited for sixes with such impunity, that one could hardly believe that this was the same spin duo which had troubled the Kiwis in the past.
Continued in Part 2...
Disclaimer: Any views and opinions expressed in this article are solely of the author and do not represent Bettor.com's official editorial policy.
Tags: