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.
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 month-long 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.
