High hopes for Bangladesh in ODI Series against Sri Lanka in 2014
Syed Munazir Hussain
AFP
Backed by a record of 2 wins, 1 loss, 1 no result against
the mighty Lankans, in the last 4 ODI’s played between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka,
the results of the upcoming 3 match ODI series do not look as easy to predict
like back in the day. The record of having recently thrashed New Zealand by a
margin of 4-0 will also keep the local boys confident of having a sniff at a
series victory which didn’t happen back in 2012 in Sri Lanka when they had to
come back home with a 1-1 tie when the second match of the series was washed
away by rain. Having come back strongly in the 2nd test with a draw
and two consecutive last ball finishes in the T20 series will also keep the
tigers spirited. On the other hand Sri Lanka will be looking back at their 2-0
T20 series victory instead of their 2-1 loss in the ODI series against Pakistan.
Form guide
Bangladesh WWWLL
Sri Lanka WLLWL
Bangladesh WWWLL
Sri Lanka WLLWL
Let’s take a look into the batting statistics of both teams
to compare where they stand.
Batting:
Bangladesh:
|
Sl
|
Player
|
Match
|
Runs
|
100
|
Average
|
Strike Rate
|
||
|
Career
|
Last 1 yr
|
Career
|
Last 1 yr
|
|||||
|
1
|
Tamim Iqbal
|
124
|
3,702
|
4
|
30.09
|
40.00
|
78.38
|
66.11
|
|
2
|
Shamsur
Rahman
|
2
|
121
|
|
60.50
|
60.50
|
75.15
|
75.15
|
|
3
|
Anamul Haque
(wk)
|
9
|
261
|
1
|
32.62
|
22.00
|
72.09
|
75.00
|
|
4
|
Mushfiqur
|
122
|
2449
|
1
|
26.33
|
24.75
|
68.14
|
82.84
|
|
5
|
Shakib Al
Hasan
|
129
|
3,688
|
5
|
35.12
|
17.66
|
78.18
|
86.88
|
|
6
|
Nasir Hossain
|
28
|
819
|
1
|
43.10
|
64.20
|
81.65
|
98.46
|
|
7
|
Mahmudullah
|
94
|
1,829
|
|
33.25
|
34.71
|
72.43
|
84.96
|
|
8
|
Sohag Gazi
|
11
|
115
|
|
19.16
|
17.66
|
89.84
|
104.00
|
|
9
|
Mashrafe
Mortaza
|
129
|
1,226
|
|
15.32
|
10.00
|
87.44
|
166.66
|
|
10
|
Rubel Hossain
|
43
|
44
|
|
4.88
|
5.00
|
51.76
|
50.00
|
|
11
|
Arafat Sunny
|
--
|
--
|
|
--
|
--
|
---
|
---
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
300.37
|
296.48
|
75.51
|
89.01
|
|
|
||||||||
|
12
|
Naeem
Islam
|
56
|
894
|
|
27.09
|
54.33
|
66.32
|
78.36
|
|
13
|
Mominul Haque
|
12
|
205
|
|
20.05
|
22.66
|
67.43
|
69.03
|
Shamsur Rahman looks to be establishing himself as a
permanent fixture in the ODI side and the answer to Bangladesh’s search for a
partner for Tamim Iqbal as an opener. The century in the test match and good
form in T20 cricket will certainly keep him pumped up. Tamim’s average of 40 in
the last year makes him look good to perform in this series. Anamul Huq’s
return as wicketkeeper batsman in the T20 series (and Mushfiqur’s inability to
keep), will give him an opportunity to cement his place in the ODI team after
his certain loss of form last year. Mushfiqur Rahim who will be playing as a
specialist batsman after his injury in the test series will be looking to
better his record as an ODI batsman. If he doesn’t improve on his batting in
this form of the game other batsmen of Mominul’s class and Naeem’s form will be
looking to replace him sooner than he gets used to play as a specialist
batsman. Nasir Hossain looks in prime form with an average of 64.20 and strike rate of
98.46 in the last year against his career average and strike rate of 43.10
and 81.65 respectively. I will prefer Mahmudullah at number 7 because of his
consistency as a batsman at that position in ODI cricket, and also because of
the fact that he looks more serious with his bowling than ever before. Arafat
Sunny will be playing instead of the injured Razzak and has looked promising in
the T20 matches.
Bangladesh has a cumulative team batting average of about 300 and a team strike rate average of 89 per 100 balls, in the last year.
Batting:
Sri Lanka:
|
Sl.
|
Batsman
|
Match
|
Runs
|
100
|
Average
|
Strike Rate
|
||
|
Career
|
Last 1 yr
|
Career
|
Last 1 yr
|
|||||
|
1
|
19
|
333
|
0
|
23.78
|
21.76
|
84.51
|
88.43
|
|
|
2
|
275
|
8,014
|
17
|
37.98
|
67.2
|
85.83
|
85.20
|
|
|
3
|
362
|
12,116
|
16
|
40.11
|
63.21
|
76.79
|
89.56
|
|
|
4
|
74
|
1,744
|
2
|
31.7
|
25.33
|
73.96
|
70.24
|
|
|
5
|
2
|
75
|
0
|
37.5
|
37.5
|
75.75
|
75.75
|
|
|
6
|
113
|
2,290
|
0
|
34.17
|
33.73
|
82.94
|
80.19
|
|
|
7
|
2
|
41
|
0
|
20.5
|
20.5
|
105.12
|
105.12
|
|
|
8
|
21
|
160
|
0
|
17.77
|
16.16
|
115.1
|
138.57
|
|
|
9
|
160
|
424
|
0
|
7.7
|
5
|
78.95
|
83.30
|
|
|
10
|
66
|
130
|
0
|
7.64
|
11.2
|
66.66
|
75.00
|
|
|
11
|
Lakmal
|
20
|
5
|
0
|
1.25
|
1.25
|
13.51
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
260.1
|
302.84
|
84.561
|
89.136
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
12
|
Kulasekara
|
146
|
1,064
|
|
16.36
|
15.2
|
81.9
|
107.80
|
|
13
|
Thisara
perera
|
67
|
651
|
|
16.27
|
16.55
|
105.85
|
90.00
|
|
14
|
Angelo
perera
|
2
|
1
|
|
1
|
|
20
|
|
Kusal Perera
will be looking to improve his batting stats while big names like Dilshan and
Sangakara look to be in prime form with batting averages of 67.2 and 63.21
respectively in the last 12 months. Chandimal and Priyanjan will be working to
consolidate their places in the team in the absence of Jayawardane who left
Bangladesh due to injury. Vithanage might be replaced with the young big hitter
Angelo Perera, or maybe with Kulasekara if they want to strengthen their
bowling lineup. Lakmal who looked in form in the test series might be replaced
with in form Kulasekara if they play with 7 batsmen. Thisara who was recently
purchased in the IPL also looks a strong contender to replace Vithanage at
number 7. The Sri Lankan 11 does not look as settled as the Bangladeshi line up
and I believe that all players will be given a try before the Asian Cup which
also begins this month in Dhaka.
Sri Lanka has a cumulative team batting average of about 260 which goes up to 300 in the last
12 months, with a team strike rate at an
average of about 89 per 100 balls in the last year.
Both Dilshan and Sangakara’s wickets will be key for
Bangladesh to keep their winning streak going.
Bowling
Bangladesh:
|
Sl.
|
Bowler
|
Match
|
Wkts
|
Economy
|
4 Wkt
|
|
|
Career
|
Last
1 yr
|
|||||
|
1
|
Shakib
|
129
|
161
|
4.31
|
5.33
|
4
|
|
2
|
Mashrafe
|
129
|
164
|
4.66
|
6
|
5
|
|
3
|
Rubel
|
43
|
56
|
5.57
|
6.06
|
4
|
|
4
|
Mahmudullah
|
94
|
57
|
5.05
|
5.1
|
|
|
5
|
Gazi
|
11
|
16
|
4.36
|
5.38
|
1
|
|
6
|
Shafiul
Islam
|
49
|
56
|
5.8
|
5.92
|
4
|
Shakib and Mashrafe with 325 ODI wickets between them will be
leading the attack with support from Rubel, Mahmudullah and Arafat Sunny who is
yet to play ODI cricket. Shafiul Islam might get an opportunity in place of
Rubel somewhere in the series but Alamin will probably have to wait in line.
Razzak who suffered an injury during the test series will be badly missed as he
is by far the best ODI bowler for Bangladesh with over 200 ODI wickets and an
outstanding economy rate at about 4.5 per over. Consideration of dew factor
might allow Shafiul Islam a place ahead of Sohag Gazi who looked ordinary in
the T20 series.
Bowling
Sri Lanka:
|
Sl.
|
Bowler
|
Match
|
Wkts
|
Economy
|
4 Wkt
|
|
|
Career
|
Last
1 yr
|
|||||
|
1
|
Malinga
|
160
|
242
|
5.15
|
5.73
|
8
|
|
2
|
Mendis
|
66
|
110
|
4.39
|
4.45
|
5
|
|
3
|
Lakmal
|
20
|
27
|
5.99
|
5.17
|
|
|
4
|
Senanayke
|
21
|
18
|
4.74
|
4.58
|
|
|
5
|
Mathews
|
113
|
69
|
4.51
|
4.32
|
1
|
|
6
|
Kulasekara
|
146
|
161
|
4.68
|
5.39
|
3
|
|
7
|
Dilshan
|
275
|
76
|
4.74
|
4.4
|
3
|
|
8
|
Thisara
Perera
|
67
|
85
|
5.55
|
6.06
|
3
|
Malinga and Mendis will be leading the Sri Lankan attack with
352 wickets between them with Lakmal, Senanayke and Mathews providing support
unless they decide to play an extra bowler with either Kulasekara or Thisara
Perera who also are wicket takers in this form of the game. Mathews, Senanayke
and Dilshan have outstanding economy rates in the last year with stats as good
as 4.32, 4.58 and 4.4 in the last 12 months. Bangladeshi batsmen will have to find
ways to rotate the strike at regular intervals against these seemingly innocuous
but sneaky bowlers to build challenging totals.
Opinion:
The batting of both teams look evenly matched with Sri Lanka
relying heavily on star batsmen Dilshan and Sangakara, while Bangladesh will be
looking for good starts from Tamim Iqbal and Shamsur Rahman. The Sri Lankan
bowling looks slightly ahead in terms of form but the local bowlers will be
expected to handle conditions better. Sri Lanka may have adjusted to local
conditions by now but the huge crowd support for the tigers will keep them
slightly ahead. Early breakthroughs for both teams will be crucial. Sangakara
and Dilshan will be key wickets for Bangladesh while Tamim, Shamsur and inform
Anamul will be crucial wickets to disrupt flow of runs in the beginning. Nasir
and Mahmudullah down at number 6 and 7 respectively make Bangladesh appear to
have a seemingly deeper batting line up but only the result of the series will
say who have a stronger lineup ahead of the Asian Cup which is also scheduled
at the end of this month.
Disclaimer:
All stats from Stasguru cricinfo till February 14, 2014
Last 1 year means matches played between February 14, 2013 to Feb 14, 2014.
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