The Chanderpaul Way

Marlon Samuels 109x

He may not have batted but the Shiv Chanderpaul method was all over the play at Khaluna on the second day. On a day when the West Indies lost early wickets in reply to the hosts improbable 387, Marlon Samuels and Darren Bravo removed the risk and batted their side back into a match that was stolen from them by a rookie tailender.

Bangladesh were quickly finished off with Mahmudallah (76) caught and bowled by Darren Sammy and the unlikely hero, Abul Hasan caught by Sammy in slip from Fidel Edwards. Playing only because of an injury to Ravi Rampaul, Edwards ended with his third best return in Test cricket.

Bangladesh, by this stage a little tired of the short stuff, retaliated through Rubel Hossain, who had the hero of the first Test, Keiran Powell, taking evasive action to a good array of short balls. Powell swatted at one eventually, only to send it to Shakib Al Hasan at deep square leg. Chris Gayle left soon after, aiming a swipe at off spinner Sohag Gazi but only managing a thin edge which keeper and captain Mushfiqur Rahim held over the top of leg stump. Gayle has had a lean time of it in Bangladesh and looked overly restrained. Perhaps Otis Gibson should sit him down with vision of David Warner's innings in Adelaide for inspiration.

At 2-43, the West Indies of two years ago might well have folded up their card table and retired in succession to the pavilion, despite the presence of quality players but Darren Sammy has created a new mind set among these Caribbean boys. The shining example of the new attitude is Marlon Samuels. Forever a batsman of potential but always disappointing, Sammy has built something into Samuels that was never there before. The pleasant starts and fluid stroke play which almost always led to disappointing scores in the thirties have been replaced by a steel rod up his spine and a preparedness to play under all conditions. Adding 198 with Darren Bravo, he was beaten occasionally and tied down often but there was no boredom, no frustration, just resolve. His hundred was his third of the year. Only that run whore Michael Clarke has more tons in 2012 and Samuels has climbed to eighth on the run list during the same period.

Bravo 85x

The smooth as silk Bravo, who has been far too often spoken of in his cousin's likeness, is another who has been learning that batting in Test cricket is not all flair and excitement and domination of the bowlers. Some days, its just hard work. With Shakib trundling his left arm greek orthodox down on a spot that could hardly be ignored and rarely treated with the freedom both batsmen would have preferred, they defended when needed and built an innings. Gazi also tied them to the crease for long periods.

Mother Sammy bought them to the table and insisted they eat their vegetables. They'll be stronger for having done so.

With three days left, this match is still full of possibilities, with the wicket deader now than last night's road kill and likely to be harder to score quickly on each of the following days.