DT
26 Sport
TUESDAY, JULY 28, 2015
‘Draw will be a huge achievement’ n Mazhar Uddin
South Africa’s Dean Elgar (L) and their team security official (R) take a walk under the umbrella on the wet outfield at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium yesterday BCB
More rain, less play frustrates Elgar n Minhaz Uddin Khan The rain affected dull draw in opening Test of the two-match series frustrated both Bangladesh and South Africa as both believed to have the upper-hand in the match that lasted three days. Persistent down pour washed away the fourth and fifth day of the Chittagong Test and although the teams returned to Dhaka couple days back for the second Test starting on Thursday, they are yet to hold an outdoor practice session due to continuous rain.
So yeah it is frustrating because of the rain there is a lot of dead time, especially now because of the monsoon. It is a frustrating time for both the sides I believe and we have got to deal with it in the best possible way Speaking to the media at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium yesterday, South Africa’s opening batsman Dean Elgar expressed how the weather is playing foul in their tour. “It is very frustrating for us at the moment especially after what have happened in Chittagong. Now it looks like the rain has followed us (to Dhaka) and it has been raining here for a while. “In cricket you talk of controlling the controllable but this is one of factor that you don’t have control over. In regards of the preparation we are trying and use the facility that we
have. We had the indoor facilities for today’s (yesterday) practice. But we are lucky that we have got some experience from the Chittagong Test and know how things will be and the requirements of each player. It is unfortunate that it is raining and we cant do much about that,” said In Chittagong, a total of 221 overs out of expected 270 were played on the first three days with Bangladesh 17 runs ahead and South Africa 61 for no loss in their second innings. According to weather forecast, the drizzle is likely to continue on and off till August 1 in Dhaka, putting full play in the first three days of the second Test under threat. When quarried how tough it becomes to stay focused knowing that the game is not likely to be played in full pace, Elgar said, “I think it is all about switching on and switching off. I think its important to switch off from the game totally at times. So I have my ways of not thinking about cricket and not deal anything with cricket, but during practice time and game you switch back on.” “So yeah it is frustrating because of the rain there is a lot of dead time, especially now because of the monsoon. It is a frustrating time for both the sides I believe and we have got to deal with it in the best possible way.” The two-match Twenty20 international series at the beginning of South Africa’s monthlong bilateral tour was a one-sided contest with the visitors dominating thoroughly. The home side counter punched with a 2-1 win in the one-day international series. With the Test drawn in Chittagong, the series is evenly poised although South Africa are the leading Test nation and Bangladesh lurking at ninth place. Elgar informed the Dhaka Test is important to them and their experience in Chittagong
taught them a lot. However, losing to Bangladesh is not a worry for the visitors. “It is never that we have to win all the game. I think there is a process that has got us to the number one position as a Test side. It is a big test for us. But there is a process that we want to follow for the five days and we understand that process. “The result will look after by itself if we do the key elements and the key areas of the game well. Their bowlers had done well in Chittagong and they should be credited. I think we have learnt from our mistakes and are ready to come strong here (in Dhaka),” said the 28-year-old who has three hundreds and equal number of half centuries in his 16-match Test career so far. l
Bangladesh’s Imrul Kayes expects that the confidence derived from the opening Test will give additional boost to the home side when they take the field in Dhaka for the second and ultimate Test match against world number one Test nation South Africa. According to the Test opener, another draw, if not a win, will be a huge achievement for Bangladesh who are ranked ninth in the ICC Test standings. The first of the two-Test between the hosts and the African nation in Chittagong ended in a tame draw as rain washed out the last two days after some competitive cricket from both the sides till day three. The down pour is still a threat for the second Test at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium that starts on Thursday. Continuous rain confined both Bangladesh and South Africa to practice sessions at the indoor facilities in Mirpur yesterday. “As I said before if we can draw the Dhaka Test it will be a huge achievement for us. We have displayed positive attitude in batting, bowling and fielding in the Chittagong Test but unlucky for us that it was a washout. If we can remain positive and perform according to our plan then we can put up a good show,” said Imrul who scored 26 in the first Test. “We are playing against the number one ranked side where they don’t bowl lose deliveries often. Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel are amongst the top bowlers in world cricket, they read the pitch immediately and knew that short balls were not going work on that wicket. The pitch in Chittagong, you can spend some time in the middle but still scoring wasn’t easy.” The 28-year old continued, “And we are concentrating on playing good cricket and not thinking about the result. After losing the ODI series, South African side are hungry to do well against us.” Imrul, who scored 150 in a record 312-run opening stand with Tamim Iqbal against Pakistan earlier this year, has established himself as a Test opener under coach Chandika Hathurusingha as he credited the Sri Lankan for giving the freedom to the batsmen to play their natural game. Imrul also praised his younger teammate Liton Kumar Das for his impressive batting in Chittagong. l
(L-R) Bangladesh Test opening pair Tamim Iqbal and Imrul Kayes is joined by Liton Kumar as the trio speak to spin bowling coach Ruwan Kalpage before the indoor net session at Mirpur yesterday MAINOOR ISLAM MANIK