Bangladesh Making Steady Progress

Naeem Islam made a maiden century

Sensible batting and cool heads under pressure have not always been the strengths of Bangladeshi cricket. Just as other subcontinent nations struggled in their early years in Test cricket, the youngest of the Test playing nations has always battled for enough experience and enough depth to be competitive. Playing only their 74th Test in thirteen years at the top level and their first in nearly twelve months, the have always found keeping their best players in form a difficult task and giving them enough experience has always been a big ask. Winning builds success but when you've won only three games in thirteen seasons (4%), other building blocks have to be found.

Their closest rivals at Test Level, Zimbabwe, have played a similar number of Tests for markedly better results and in the process have produced several world class players but then, the impact of British colonialism was more marked in the African nation. Zimbabwe lost six years of Test cricket from 2005, thanks to Robert Mugabe and the drain of leading cricketers to other places. Death threats tend to have that effect.

Heartening for Mushfiqur Rahim's men is the knowledge that two of their three Test victories were against the West Indies, three years ago in the Caribbean. With the West Indies senior players in dispute with their board, their second eleven were dispatched on their own grounds under the leadership of the beleaguered 37 year old veteran, Floyd Reifer, who had played four Tests in the late nineties. It was the time went Caribbean cricket was at its worst. Darren Sammy, Tino Best and Kemar Roach are the only survivors and for Sammy, it was his most successful series with the ball.

Bangladesh resumed on day three, still 363 behind in the chase to better the West Indies imposing 4-527. It was steady progress all day, never at any stage completely dominating the the bowlers but intent on keeping the runs coming at a steady pace of three an over. Naeem and Shakib added 88 in the first session, with both batsmen moving on to their half centuries. After lunch, Shakib added runs quickly, blazing off spinner Sunil Narine through the covers twice and over long on for six. Ravi Rampaul returned and removed Shakib when he aimed an overly ambitious drive through cover but lofted it instead to Chanderpaul's replacement, Fudadin. It was a hundred wasted.

Sammy: not much to cheer about

Mushfiqur came in and restored some common sense to the batting, guiding Naeem to an overdue maiden Test century, scored in a patient six hours. Their partnership of 76 kept Bangladesh safe from the follow on. Tiring badly toward the end of his innings, it was no surprise when Naeem played a limp, inoffensive cut shot at Darren Sammy and was caught behind. Its unlikely he has batted for so long in any form of cricket. Mushfiqur also went in the hour after tea, during a period when Darren Sammy was employing defensive fields and keeping the scoring to a minimum. Even so, it was strange Mushfiqur jumped down the track and returned a hot chance to the bowler, Permaul, who held on for his first Test wicket.

Nasir Hossain and Mahmudullah denied the West Indies any further breakthroughs, adding 87 unbeaten until stumps. Rampaul, a versatile bowler under all conditions, was the West Indies best and Sammy was enthusiastic but again it was emergence of another Caribbean spinner that surprised. Verasammy Permaul, a slow left arm orthodox bowler who took up cricket ten years ago at 13 and has been playing first class cricket for only five years, was impressive. He has played "A" cricket recently in Bangladesh, with some success, probably the convincing factor in his selection. He was far more convincing that Narine, who was expensive all day and the only bowler the Bangladeshi batsmen dominated. Darren Sammy has seemed keen to have spinners in his side, unlike West Indies captains in the past. On this showing, Permaul may be one to keep.

Bangladesh resume on day four trailing by 72.