If anyone from Bangladesh has the perfect idea about the condition, pitch and other elements of the historic Melbourne Cricket Ground, it has to be the country’s first Test centurion Aminul Islam Bulbul.
It was back in 1989 when Bulbul visited the MCG for the very first time. Since then, the former Bangladesh captain has paid numerous visits to the largest cricket ground in Australia, mostly as a development officer of the Asian Cricket Council. What’s more, the 47-year old also resides in Melbourne.
“I first visited Melbourne back in 1989 for a youth tournament. Since then, I have been here many times. Now, my family also lives here,” Bulbul told Dhaka Tribune yesterday.
And ahead of the Tigers’ third Pool A game against Sri Lanka tomorrow at “The G”, the elegant right-hander had some words of advice for his countrymen.
“I think it is very important for us to adapt with the conditions in Australia. For instance, the MCG is a huge field and the pitch here will surely have some bounce on it. And, if our fast bowlers - Mashrafe bin Mortaza, Taskin Ahmed and Rubel Hossain - can bowl at a good line, which they did in the first game against Afghanistan, I think we have a very good chance,” he said.
Bulbul, however, expressed disappointment with the fact that the team management did not pay any heed to his suggestion of arranging more practice matches Down Under.
“Previously, I suggested some of the board officials to come here and play a few matches under the banner of the Bangladesh A team so that they could get a better idea of the conditions. But, nobody replied to my opinion. It hurts me,” said a disappointed Bulbul.
“I felt very bad as none from the Bangladesh team management or even the cricketers came to me to ask about the condition and pitch of Melbourne. I have been here more than anyone else in Bangladesh. I know what needs to be done in order to get a good result at the MCG. I have seen a lot of matches here and also played a couple of district matches at this ground.”
Bulbul added that apart from left-arm spinner Rangana Herath, none of the Sri Lankan bowlers are in good form at the moment, which bodes well for Bangladesh’s prospects.
He also opined that the likes of Shakib al Hasan, Tamim Iqbal and Mushfiqur Rahim will be the key men for Bangladesh in the rest of the tournament.