a blog about a lot of things

The win for Bangladesh in the 2 nd ODI in Dominica secured a series win over the West Indies in the 3 match series. This therefore makes the 3 rd ODI at St. Kitts in effect, a match in which the result is irrelevant. But then , how much of the entire series has been relevant? Officially, the series is recognized as an international series, all the statistics will be counted. But everyone who has seen even one match of the series will know that this series falls short of what is international standard. Bangladesh are entering establishing new milestones every time they play a match. Their first Test series win on tour, their first ODI win and first ODI series win against the hosts have all come on this tour. Their highest successful run chase in the 50 over game was also achieved. While it is true that these victories came against a severely depleted side, it is also true that Bangladesh have played to the best of their ability. This series may be exactly what the Bangladesh team ...

Considering the uncertainties surrounding the staging of the 1 st test between the West Indies and Bangladesh tomorrow it would be extremely naïve to try to write a preview. Conflicting and sometimes even contradicting reports suggest that anything from a complete player boycott to a second-string side being played. All the while the WICB maintain that “They are confident that there will be a Test match on Thursday”. If this is frustrating to those who only intended to watch the game on television imagine how much more so it must be for the fans in St. Vincent. In a ground that has only had one previous Test match, 12 years ago against Sri Lanka, the local fans would have surely been eager to see the return of Test cricket to the island. Ticket sales were sure to have been high, considering the fact that the West Indies were expected to win the series. The fans now are left with the dilemma of whether to even go to the ground, bearing in mind that the match may not even be played....

Bangladesh’s victory in the recently concluded 1 st test only serves to amplify the fact that West Indies cricket has been greatly weakened by external matters. Though playing a makeshift West Indian side, Bangladesh can only play whoever they are pitted against and in this instance they refused to be diverted from the cricket and exploited their opportunities. Taking nothing away from Bangladesh, who fully deserved their win , the questions that must be asked should be directed towards the administration. The reasons for this loss are just as much, if not more, of their making than that of the players. There is undoubtedly a large amount of talent in the team, perhaps enough to comprise the majority of a future first string West Indian team. But the emphasis lies on the fact that they are future potential and playing them all at once may serve to stunt their development. It is possible that some players may immediately make the jump from first-class to Test level and the selec...